Life After Stroke Awards winners announced

37-year old mum, Andrea Elson from Liverpool is today receiving a Life After Stroke Award from The Stroke Association after overcoming the devastating effects of a stroke, just days after the birth of her first child. Andrea is receiving her award at a prestigious awards ceremony being held at Claridges in central London today.

Andrea had her stroke at just 28 years old which left her unconscious for a week, unable to move the left side of her body and problems with her vision. Andrea decided to use her new born son as inspiration to aid her recovery and set about rebuilding her life.

Her overriding goal was to be able to hold her son and change his nappy. Through huge amounts of support from family, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, Andrea was finally able to care for her son after 6 months.

Andrea has limited use in her left hand and is unable to do some of the things she used to enjoy like gardening. She is also affected by short term memory loss. Despite this, Andrea has made a huge contribution to her local community.

Andrea volunteers at Dysphasia Support Groups which help people who have communication problems after stroke. She is also a Young Stroke Co-ordinator in both north and south Liverpool, arranging coffee mornings, trips and meals for younger people who have had a stroke.

In addition, Andrea gives talks and presentations about stroke and her personal experience to students including nurses, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists.

Andrea’s award recognises how she has successfully managed to rebuild her life after her stroke and achieve some fantastic work in the community.

Andrea is one of nine winners who have been awarded a Life After Stroke Award.

Categories and winners of the awards are as follows:

Children & Young People’s Courage Award (4-17 yrs) - Adam Fontain, 15, Basildon, Essex

Adult Courage Award (18 - 54) - Susan Thomas, 53, Ruislip, Middlesex

Adult Courage Award (55+) - Barbara Hobbs, 60, East Yorkshire

The Stroke Association Volunteer Award - Julie McKechnie, 48, Morecambe, Lancashire

Stroke Club Award - Swindon Stroke Club, Swindon, Wiltshire

Susie Hulks Memorial Award for Art - Richard Topping, 36, County Antrim

Richard Thomas Community Award - Andrea Elson, 37, Liverpool

Corporate Supporter Award - BAE Systems and Airbus

Trust Supporter Award - Bridge House Trust

A number of celebrities are attending the Life After Stroke Awards to recognise the outstanding achievements of these individuals and present them with their awards. Prunella Scales, Cliff Parisi (Minty from Eastenders), Linda Bellingham, Sue Townsend and Tony Hart are among the guests.

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive at The Stroke Association comments: “Stroke is the leading cause of severe disability in the UK, with someone having a stroke every 5 minutes. The Life After Stroke Awards highlight how stroke can affect people of all ages and how it can also impact upon families, carers and volunteers. All of the winners have demonstrated true courage in either overcoming or helping others living with stroke, and I am delighted that we are able to recognise their achievements.

“I would also like to thank everyone for the huge number of nominations that we received. There are 900,000 people living with the effects of stroke and I believe they all deserve to be recognised in some way.”

For further information please contact the Media Team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 1500 or email press@stroke.org.uk

Notes to editor

1. Dysphasia is impairment in communication and these problems arise following damage to the part of the left side of the brain, which is responsible for language and communication. People with dysphasia may have difficulty talking, understanding, listening, writing, or doing numeral calculations.

2. Servier Laboratories Ltd sponsored the Adult Courage Award (55 years+)

3. Each year an estimated 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

4. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combatting stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

5. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

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