Dystonia Superstar Award - England Expand The 🌟 Dystonia Superstar Award - England 🌟 is your chance to recognise a superstar in the dystonia community - whether they have dystonia themselves or not, they are someone that has made a difference to you or others. It’s up to you to decide what makes them a Dystonia Superstar! Manoli "Manoli does a lot of charity runs to raise money and awareness for this charity. His amazing 12-year-old son, Luca, has dystonia. Manoli is an incredible father and pushes himself so hard when training and running at these events. He has completed half marathons which I know have been really tough. Manoli is truly incredible, inspiring, and very deserving of this award." Rebecca "Through her blog, Dystonia and me, Rebecca advocates for change, equality and support. Many, many people reach out to her, and she always has time to answer and support others, even though most days are very challenging for her health wise." Sharon "Sharon’s an amazing inspiration to others. A brave and determined advocate for equality. She and Layla, her therapy cavapoo are a pair to be reckoned with! Despite her own dystonia, she always manages to help everyone else and offers support for us all. She’s in the past been on radio to raise awareness for all types of dystonia."
Dystonia Superstar Award - Northern Ireland Expand The 🌟 Dystonia Superstar Award - Northern Ireland 🌟 is your chance to recognise a superstar in the dystonia community - whether they have dystonia themselves or not, they are someone that has made a difference to you or others. It’s up to you to decide what makes them a Dystonia Superstar! Ciaran “Ciaran ran a half marathon and raised over £650 in honour of his dad, who had deep brain stimulation (DBS) for dystonia. Ciaran's commitment to fundraising and raising awareness is incredible. He’s shown so much dedication and support for the dystonia community.” Henry “Henry’s the former chair of our support group, he poured his heart and soul into making it a safe haven for everyone. He applied for a £1000 grant, that Dystonia UK received. But what truly touches me is his unwavering dedication to his son living with dystonia. His love and support have left a lasting impact on all of us.” Karl “Karl’s a total rockstar in the dystonia community! Despite dealing with it himself, he’s been on fire, raising awareness and money through his writing and podcast appearances. His passion for sharing his story, kicking butt, and educating others about dystonia is seriously awesome!”
Dystonia Superstar Award - Scotland Expand The 🌟 Dystonia Superstar Award - Scotland 🌟 is your chance to recognise a superstar in the dystonia community - whether they have dystonia themselves or not, they are someone that has made a difference to you or others. It’s up to you to decide what makes them a Dystonia Superstar! Beth “Beth’s an exceptional volunteer and a vital supporter of the dystonia community. Beth, who also has dystonia, supports her husband who lives with the same condition, volunteers, and raises awareness and money for Dystonia UK. Beth’s dedication to helping others while managing her own challenges makes her very inspiring.” Emma “Emma’s in pain 24 hrs a day and she somehow still smiles. When she smiles her mouth is so big it lights up the room! She’s had dystonia for 20 years, it’s taken over her life. Sorry, taken over our life as a family! We’ve been blessed with 2 boys aged 10 and 13 and despite everything and all the pain they are her no1 priority! She’s always been a bit of a daredevil so she’s raising money for dystonia in August by doing a Wing walk! I was going to do it but I don’t want too! She’s selfless and caring and beautiful inside and out! Guess no matter what life throws at us we’re loved up!” Jill “Jill’s been like a fundraising machine for dystonia, tirelessly working to make a difference. Jill's always chatting with others about dystonia, spreading awareness wherever she goes. Plus, she’s a real support to people in the dystonia community. Honestly, I find her pretty inspirational. Jill's determination and passion for helping those affected by dystonia are truly something special. She’s definitely nominee material in my book!”
Dystonia Superstar Award - Wales Expand The 🌟 Dystonia Superstar Award - Wales 🌟 is your chance to recognise a superstar in the dystonia community - whether they have dystonia themselves or not, they are someone that has made a difference to you or others. It’s up to you to decide what makes them a Dystonia Superstar! Dianne “Despite facing the challenges of dystonia, Dianne’s been a real force in our community. She volunteered at the Dystonia UK office, making a big impact on the team. Her dedication and hard work? Honestly, it's inspiring. She definitely deserves a round of applause for all she’s done!” Josh-Jayy “Josh-Jayy! He’s like the energizer bunny when it comes to raising money and shouting from the rooftops about dystonia. Seriously, he is unstoppable, always there to lend a hand to anyone who needs it. His passion is infectious, and I couldn't be prouder to call him a friend.” Moira “Moira rocks! She used to volunteer for Dystonia UK and has been out there raising awareness and fundraising for dystonia, all while dealing with it herself. Her dedication to supporting the community and educating others about the condition is seriously inspiring. Moira's work has made a real difference in many lives, so yeah, she’s definitely nominee material.”
Masked Hero Award Expand The 🦸 Masked Hero Award 🦸 celebrates a medical professional who has made a difference to your life from doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and professionals all dedicated to the dystonia community. We want to recognise those special people whose care, attention and commitment have gone beyond the call of duty. Aminata Bocum “Aminata is a Functional Neurosurgery Nurse Specialist (DBS). I first met her at the botulinum toxin clinic at Charing Cross Hospital. Since my DBS surgery she’s supported me through each stage, works ridiculously long hours, despite a heavy clinic load gives us the time we need to explain and support, giving complex information in a managed way. I would be lost without her care. Soon after my DBS surgery she came into work with a broken toe. So as not to cancel her clinic day. Her consistent support and know how is second to none.” Nicola Dunlop “Nicola has regularly administered my botulinum toxin injections for Blepharospasm since I was diagnosed in 2013. She is a very caring person, always has time to listen and is a great champion for her patients. Her efforts led to the botulinum toxin clinic at Moorfields staying open throughout the pandemic, providing a lifeline for patients who would have otherwise become functionally blind. She has carried out research into the patient experience of living with blepharospasm, thereby contributing to a sparse body of research evidence. I know that she is highly valued by all the patients who are fortunate to find themselves under her care. As far as I am concerned, she really is a masked hero!” Miss Penny Lennox “Miss Lennox is an ENT consultant at the John Radcliffe Hospital who has run a botulinum toxin clinic for patients with the voice disorder Spasmodic Dysphonia for the past 21 years. I have been working with her for the past 3 years (I am an SLT) and her patients consistently tell me how appreciative they are for her care and kindness, and often tell me that her treatment has changed their lives. Some of our patients have been with her for the whole 21 years that she has been at the JR! She has recently left most of her clinical work to take up a post as Divisional Director, however she has continued running the botulinum toxin clinic due to the relationship she has built up with her patients and the huge need that it fills.”
Popular Podcast Award Expand Our 🎙️ Popular Podcast Award 🎙️ celebrates the incredible guests we've hosted throughout Season 3 on our Dystonia Matters Podcast. We are asking you to vote for your favourite episode and the winning award will go to the guests featured in the episode with the most votes. It might be that one person’s story really resonated with you or helped you in your personal journey, whatever your reason we want to hear from you! The 4 episodes of the Dystonia Matters Podcast Season 3 were: Tajana's story Beccy's story Katie's story Claire's story
Young Champion Award Expand The 🏆 Young Champion Award 🏆 offers the perfect opportunity to celebrate individuals aged 16-25 who embody extraordinary qualities and deserve some recognition! Whether they are living life with dystonia, demonstrate exceptional support as a sibling or have achieved something you want everybody to know about, now is the moment to acknowledge how outstanding they are. Let's shine the spotlight on these remarkable individuals and give them the recognition they truly deserve! Ashley “I would like to nominate my son Ashley for his incredible adaptability and bravery whilst navigating this condition. Ashley was born at 26 weeks and has battled from birth. Ashley was diagnosed with Global developmental and Tourette’s syndrome by the age of 9 and more recently chromosome 16 duplication. Over the past 2 years, Ashley’s battled with multifocal dystonia with many painful attacks throughout the day. He has the constant worry of a dystonic crisis but continues to handle this with bravery and determination.” Luca “My young nephew is an inspiration. He was diagnosed as a very young child after numerous tests and investigations and our world was turned upside down when he was diagnosed. He underwent brain surgery and has frequent appointments in London. He is amazing and from being in a wheelchair now walks miles! He even did a podcast for the BBC and spoke at Dystonia Matters Live 2023. I am very proud of the young man he has become and the way he has faced the challenges thrown at him.” Tajana “Living with dystonia herself, Tajana’s been on a mission, fundraising and raising awareness for the condition. As a podcast guest, she’s bravely shared her own experiences, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of living with dystonia. Her commitment and passion for supporting the community run deep.”