Life After Stroke Award Winners

WINNERS of The Stroke Association's 'Life After Stroke Awards' collected their awards at a star-studded ceremony in Westminster, London on 16th July 2002.

This year, the Awards attracted nearly 400 nominations from stroke patients, carers and volunteers from around England and Wales.

There were seven award categories in all: three for courage including a children's award, one for community work, one for carers, one for Stroke Association volunteers and, finally, one for art.

The winners were joined by the charity's President HRH the Duke of Kent and a host of celebrities including Honor Blackman, Nickolas Grace, David Shilling, Martyn Bell and Michael Howard MP. Edward Peel (star of TV's, London's Burning) also compèred the awards.

The awards, sponsored by Pfizer Ltd, recognise the extraordinary courage that has been shown by people of all ages who have had a stroke, and also those who care for them.

Eoin Redahan, Director of Public Relations at The Stroke Association, said: "These special awards highlight the amazing courage, determination and achievement shown by those who have had their lives turned upside down by the effects of a stroke. I'd like to thank everyone who entered - the judges had a really difficult time trying to choose winners from such deserving people."
The winners are:-
Junior Courage Award - Kirsty Shelton, 9 years, from Walsall, West Midlands

18-55 years Courage Award - Karen Short, 41 years, from Romney Marsh, Kent

55 years plus Courage Award - Anton Harler, 55 years, from Weymouth, Dorset

Carers Award - Stuart, 14 years, and Gareth Williams, 16 years, Mountain Ash, Wales

Richard Thomas Community Award - Bob Bryant, 55 years, from Runcorn, Cheshire

Susie Hulks Memorial Award for Art - Christine Hare, 55 years from Cradley, Worcestershire

The Stroke Association Volunteer Award - Judith Chalker, 64 years from Mortlake, Surrey

The award winners were each presented with a bronze sculpted butterfly statue - the Association's symbol of life after stroke.
Stroke is the biggest single cause of death and disability in this country and The Stroke Association provides support for people who have had strokes, their families and carers. Each year there are about 100,000 new cases of stroke in England and Wales. That is a new case every five minutes.

Ends

Notes to editor

1. To interview a winner or for more information on the 'Life After Stroke Awards', call 020 7566 0317 or 020 7566 0328.

2. This year, the Awards are sponsored by Pfizer Ltd. The Awards are an annual event, this is the 10th year.

3. Stroke is one of the biggest killers and the largest single cause of disability in the UK. Around 100,000 people in England and Wales suffer a first stroke each year - about 10,000 are under the age of 55 and 1,000 are under the age of 30. One person every five minutes will suffer a first stroke.

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