Celebs turnout for stroke survivors’ ceremony

A host of celebrities will honour the achievements of stroke survivors at a star-studded Life After Stroke Awards in Central London on Tuesday 15 June 2010.

Outstanding stroke survivors, carers, volunteers, major donors, corporate supporters and health professionals from across the UK will be presented with their awards by a number of famous faces. 

This year’s winners range from a 15 year old girl who is battling back to fitness following a devastating stroke at the age of 12, to a 70 year old lady who spent five years recovering from her stroke before setting up her very own local stroke club.

There will be a total of ten Life After Stroke Awards dished out at Claridge’s Hotel in what proves to be an emotional day for both winners and guests alike.

The Life After Stroke Awards will be hosted by DJ Neil ‘Doctor’ Fox with other celebrity guests including fashion designer Gareth Pugh, TV health expert Dr Hilary Jones, Welsh rugby star Michael Owen, acclaimed businesswomen Karren Brady and Hilary Devey, and actors Rupert Graves, Wendi Peters and Michelle Collins.

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive at The Stroke Association comments: “Around one million people in the UK are living with the effects of stroke. The Life After Stroke Awards not only highlight how stroke can affect anyone at any age, but also the impact the condition has on families, carers and health care professionals. All of the award winners have shown tremendous courage in rebuilding their lives after a stroke or in helping others to do the same. I am delighted that we are able to recognise and celebrate their achievements.” 

ENDS

For further information or to arrange interviews with the winners please contact Richard Mountford at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 1534 or email richard.mountford@stroke.org.uk

Notes to editor

1. Over 230 people from across the UK were nominated for a Life After Stroke Award in 2010 and several winners are available for interview.

2. The Life After Stroke Awards 2010 are sponsored by LighterLife and Next.

3. Winners details:

Children and Young People’s (under 18) Courage Award – Sasha, aged 15, York

Sasha was only 12 years old when she had a stroke. Initially Sasha’s family was told she would probably not walk again and was only able to sit up with help. However, Sasha was undeterred and when asked to be bridesmaid for her cousin’s wedding she was determined to not be in her wheelchair.

Through hard work, resilience and some intense physiotherapy sessions Sasha did manage to walk down the aisle with all of the other bridesmaids in July 2009, and even had her walking stick decorated to match the bridesmaids’ outfits.

Sasha is now back at school full time, preparing for her GCSEs and is able to walk with the aid of a stick on flat surfaces.

Sasha is a very popular girl, and acts as an SOS at school; a voluntary role that advises younger pupils on protocols around the school, as well as helping them out with homework. Sasha’s stroke was linked to an AVM (arteriovenous malformation) that was diagnosed when she was only 9 years old and was due to be removed when her stroke struck.

Adult Courage Award (18-64 years old) – Mark, 53, Teignmouth, Devon

Mark was 39 when he had his stroke in 1996. Prior to the stroke, Mark was a freelance film maker, a career minded, high flying individual, with a young family. 

Mark is an incredibly talented multi media artist. He created the film The Dog That Barked Like a Bird which explored his life after stroke. 

Mark is a patron of InterAct Reading Service, the Guardian Newspaper Charity Award winning charity that takes professional actors into hospitals and reads to stroke patients. 

He has also used his artistic skills to work with other disabled communities, most recently the blind community by creating computer-controlled interactive sound sculptures for visually impaired schoolchildren, and creating sculptural teaching aids to help blind people learn Braille. 

Mark’s disability has heavily influenced his art and whenever possible he uses his work to help promote awareness of various forms of disability including stroke.

Adult Courage Award (65 years and over) – Maureen, 70, Dorset

As chair of a local charity and with a busy family life, Maureen, now 70, hardly had a minute to spare; a situation she thrived on. Her stroke, which struck on Valentine’s Day 2003, changed everything. Maureen was faced with the frustration of having the will but not the ability to carry on with her usual activities.

However through swimming, not her regular 100 lengths pre-stroke but the two or three widths she could manage, and gradually increasing the amount she could walk in one go; Maureen was determined that all tasks would be re-conquered. Perhaps most significantly Maureen re-passed her driving test after her licence had been suspended following her stroke.

Five years on from her stroke and despite not being up to the rigours of her previous charity work, Maureen decided to set up her own stroke club. The Ferndown Stroke Club has now swelled to over 30 members, and Maureen, who is well known locally, remains at the heart of its existence. Maureen has done numerous fundraising events for her Stroke Club, including an abseil down a building in Bournemouth City Centre and also plans to do a skydive soon.

Carer’s Award – Rita, 43, London. *NOT AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

Rita cares for William, who had a serious stroke in January 2008 and a craniotomy a few days later. This was followed by a second stroke and two heart attacks. He also contracted pneumonia and still suffers periodically from seizures.  

Rita was working full time in a professional capacity, owned her own property and was totally independent. She has since decided to take a year's break from her job, rented her property and sold her car in order to care full-time for William having only met him six months before his stroke.

They are now living together near the family in a specially adapted Housing Association flat. She works tirelessly to provide for him, to ensure he has the care he needs and deserves. Rita comes at the bottom of her own priority list although she has become more aware over the last few weeks that she needs to take time out for herself too. 

Excellence in Stroke Care Award – Therese, 43, Aberdeen

Therese was the first ever occupational therapy stroke consultant in the UK, of which there are still only two now.

She not only has a complete mastery of the clinical skills required by an occupational therapist but she also has the insight and knowledge of the importance of research and its role in improving and delivering stroke care. 

She has always been an excellent 'user' of research evidence - always ensuring that her clinical occupational therapists under her supervision apply the recent evidence base to stroke patients and their carers. Therese also embarked on an MSc which resulted in a pass with distinction and is now considering embarking on her PhD.

Stroke Club Award – Basingstoke Area Support Group

Since the group started it has grown month by month to its current size of 70 members and 18 volunteers. It now meets every week – on a Wednesday – in Carnival Hall in Basingstoke.

It runs a Vitalise fitness group every fortnight, an art group run by a trained teacher every fortnight, a social group once a fortnight and as from the start of the year, a peer-run conversation group for people affected by aphasia.

Last November 30 members went for a ‘Tinsel and Turkey’ weekend on Hayling Island and they will be going again this December but with even more people this time round.

The President of the club is Rosemary Norman who will be attending the awards ceremony to pick up the prize. Rosemary has had two strokes herself but remains completely dedicated to helping run the club.

Rosemary is well connected to the Mayor of Basingstoke and insists that he visits the group on a regular basis. As a result the Mayor helps Rosemary with lots of local networking as well as helping her with continued funding of the club.

Rosemary says she dedicates all of her available time to the club but when she does have a spare minute she enjoys knitting and sewing.

The Stroke Association Award for Volunteering – Robert, 47, Caerphilly

As well as being a star volunteer, Rob cares for his wife Shan who he met when they were at school together, and dated when they were 15.

However they went their separate ways after school, both married other people and then remarkably met again 27 years later at a school reunion when both were going through divorces.

They got married five years ago and then shortly afterwards Shan had her stroke whilst on holiday in Spain in 2007.

Rob initially brought Shan to a Stroke Association support group in the early months of her recovery when she was still in a wheelchair, and very quickly decided that he would like to become a volunteer.

Because of the stroke they have both given up their successful careers, Shan as an electrical beauty consultant and Rob as a sales manager.

On top of the time that Rob dedicates to caring for Shan he also manages to volunteer in three weekly Communication Support groups, carries out home visits, drives clients to groups and helps with admin duties.

He is passionate in his belief that there is 'life after stroke' and works tirelessly to help stroke survivors progress with their communication skills and confidence.

Susie Hulks Memorial Award for Art – Kathryn, 24, Durham

Kathryn Thompson, 24, had a stroke two years ago, only a few weeks into her foundation degree course in Fashion Design at Newcastle College.

She even had to have a piece of her skull taken out to relieve swelling on her brain and spent a week in intensive care.

Yet prior to being discharged from hospital she vowed to resume an independent life and to finish her college course. Kathryn is now approaching the end of her degree and her talent for quilting has been recognised by The Stroke Association.

In the months following her stroke Kathryn grew tired of being in the house and joined a quilting class at the fabric shop, where she had previously worked part-time.

At first she had difficulty in knowing the right and wrong side of the fabric and she had to learn to master techniques with one hand; such as using a sewing machine with a device for lifting the machine foot using her knee.

Her quilts were not perfect, but with each one Kathryn’s techniques steadily improved. So far, she has made eight quilts and has plans to make more. The lively quilt designs with bright colours reflect Kathryn’s personality.

A serious stroke in a healthy young woman, believed to have been caused by a gene that makes her blood clot, is a devastating experience. However, in the 20 months since her stroke Kathryn has strived for independence and has been able to leave the family home and live in her own flat with her partner, Billy.

Kathryn has been with boyfriend Billy for nearly four years, who she met through their interest in the same music scene - hardcore. They both love going to gigs and regularly do so at venues around the North East.

Trusts Supporter Award – The Violet M Richards Charity

Since 2001 the charity has made a great impact on our work in the field of medical research, previously awarding vital funding towards a study into the clinical importance of cerebral microbleeds in ischaemic stroke.

The Violet M Richards Charity are currently fully-funding a pioneering research study into whether naturally produced cells in the brain contribute to repairing the damage done by stroke.

Corporate Supporter Award – GE Healthcare

Since 2007 GE Healthcare has been a key corporate supporter of The Stroke Association. From targeted support of the Getting Better campaign to helping raise public awareness of stroke through their support of the FAST campaign in 2008, GE Healthcare have shown earnest commitment to the prevention and appropriate treatment of stroke.

Most Improved Stroke Service - Queen's Hospital, Romford 

Queens Hospital opened in 2006 and the stroke team now has over 100 staff members, including 6 consultants, 75 nurses and 12 therapists. In the last year they have seen the development of an on-site hyper acute stroke service and 7 days a week access and care for high-risk TIA patients.

They are strongly supported by Trust management who have appointed a dedicated lead Consultant for stroke, two further stroke consultants and a dedicated stroke Matron.

4. The Stroke Association is the only UK charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. 

The charity funds research into prevention, treatment, better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services, which include communications support, family and carer support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. 

The Stroke Association also campaigns, educates and informs to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society acting as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

5. A stroke is a brain attack which causes brain damage. 

A stroke can be diagnosed by using FAST – Facial weakness, Arm weakness, Speech problems, Time to call 999.  If any of these symptoms are present call an ambulance straight away. 

6. The Stroke Helpline provides information on stroke to the general public and is open between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday on 0845 3033 100 or visit www.stroke.org.uk

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