Stephen McAleese Award for Inspiration 2022

In 2012, 15-year-old football mad Charlie Fogarty suffered a severe brain injury after being hit by a car. He spent 11 days in intensive care at Birmingham Children’s Hospital before being moved to a neurosurgical ward and being placed in an induced coma. Doctors said it was unlikely he would be able to walk or talk again and would probably never return to education.

Yet Charlie proved them all wrong. After leaving hospital four months after his accident, Charlie was transferred to The Children’s Trust – the UK’s leading charity for children with a brain injury and nominator for this Award. Charlie was a resident at the Charity’s specialist rehabilitation centre in Surrey and after two months he spoke again for the first time and just six months after the accident he took his first steps. Ten months later Charlie was well enough to return home.

Before the accident Charlie had just finished a four-year contract at Birmingham City’s Academy and was trialling for Milton Keynes Dons. Playing football again was Charlie’s biggest motivation and just 16 months after the accident he had put on his football boots and stepped onto the pitch for the West Midlands Centre of Excellence team.

Previous Winners:

2021 – Anita Pascoe

In July 2000, Anita Pascoe’s 54-year-old Mum, Ann, collapsed following a brain hemorrhage and she remained severely brain injured until her death earlier this year. For 20 years Anita fought to get her Mum properly supported. Accepting the Award, Anita said: “I have been inspired by so many people who have survived acquired brain injury and overcome huge challenges. We had to fight so hard over the years and that is just not right. You should not need to have someone fighting your corner in order for your needs to be met.”

2020  - Jason Le Masurier

Jason sustained a head injury in a kitesurfing accident over 10 years ago in Blackpool. Prior to his accident was a successful civil engineer working on major projects throughout the world. Whilst recovering in hospital following his accident he was told by medics that it would be unlikely for him to walk again and would most likely be confined to using a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Jason has been able to not only learn to walk again, but has also managed to run a marathon and compete in several triathlons.  Jason still suffers from the injuries sustained, but wasn’t satisfied with just achieving these physical goals, he has dedicated his time to motivational speaking about overcoming adversity.  Jason was nominated by a healthcare professional working in the field of mobility and rehabilitation who was inspired by his drive and determination.

About Stephen 

Stephen was rushed to hospital with meningitis at the age of 15. Luckily, his life was saved but he needed extensive rehabilitation. He returned to school one year later, but was in a wheelchair and needed a lot of support to come to terms with his new life as a disabled person - his family were central to this. 

The post-school experience was very difficult for Stephen. With the structure of schooldays behind him and the medical profession judging that his condition had reached a plateau, Stephen was facing the prospect of a long life with long-term disabilities. 

A major turning point occurred in his life when he discovered North Cumbria Headway in Carlisle. Headway became a second family and provided Stephen with many new opportunities. He took part in the Tall Ships Race under the auspice of the Jubilee Sailing Trust with a mixed physical abilities crew and sailed the Baltic Sea and made an Atlantic crossing in the tall ship Tenacious. 

Stephen spent much of his time raising awareness and campaigning for specialist neuro-service and rehabilitation. He became an authoritative voice and was appointed to the Northern Acquired Brain Injury Forum and was also a trustee of UKABIF. 

During this time he brought energy and enthusiasm to the UKABIF board, together with learnings from his own lived experience of acquired brain injury. He was invited to speak about his experiences at the first meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury.  Very sadly Stephen passed away and UKABIF established this award in his name the following year.