Spinal cord injury community joins together to celebrate at Rebuilding Lives Awards 2017

On Tuesday 6^th June 2017, Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) hosted its fifth annual Rebuilding Lives Awards at Williams F1 Conference Centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire, to recognise an array of inspiring people within the spinal cord injured community.

The Rebuilding Lives Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and groups in the spinal cord injury community, who inspire others through their work or hobbies or during their rehabilitation.

The event was hosted by Paralympian and medal winner Natasha Baker MBE, and others including SIA Vice-President and Williams Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams OBE, Paralympians Issy Bailey and Anna Turney, actress Dona Croll and Chief Executive of GB Wheelchair Rugby David Pond. Natasha led the presentations of 12 awards to spinal cord injured people and the healthcare and law professionals who contribute to their treatment and care.

Winners during the evening included John Harris who was awarded both the Paul Smith Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Stephen Bradshaw Award for Rebuilding Lives.  John was congratulated for his achievements in disability sports and for supporting other spinal cord injured people during their rehabilitation.

A complete list of all the winners can be found below:

Torch Trophy Challenge – Pryers Solicitors LLP

Rising Star Award – Rachel Harrison

Inspirational Carer Award – Andrei Manolache

SIA Volunteer of the Year Award – Louisa Tempest

SIA Fundraiser of the Year Award – Cathy Leech

Sports and Recreation Achievement Award – Sir Phil Craven

Award for Innovation and Care – Derek Williams

Outstanding Leadership Award – Angie Wicks

Outstanding Team Award – Clinical Psychology Department, National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC)

Paul Smith Award for Lifetime Achievement – John Harris

Inspirational Achievement Award – Danny Turnbull

Stephen Bradshaw Award for Rebuilding Lives – John Harris

Sue Browning, the Chief Executive Officer of the charity said,

“The Rebuilding Lives Awards celebrate the achievements of people in the spinal cord injured community. The winners, and everyone who was shortlisted for the 2017 awards, are very deserving of the recognition that they received during the event, for their great commitment to improving the care and support to spinal cord injured people and their families. We hope that the event goes some way in thanking all of the winners and nominees, for the difference that they make to everyone around them.”

Spinal Injuries Association introduced their first awards ceremony in 2013 and thanks to its success, the event has been an annual fixture in the charity’s diary.  The shortlisted nominees are chosen from nominations received from within the spinal cord injured community, and winners selected by an independent judging panel.