Tina Wescott, 51, was given the Carer of the Year award, sponsored by Barr Ellison LLP at the Headway Annual Awards.
Tina has been caring for her father Larry since 1993 after he sustained a traumatic brain injury in a car crash. The incident meant she had to give up her job as a supervisor at Bristol railway station.
Recently Larry, who is aged 77, suffered a fall in the night and broke his neck in two places. To make sure it didn’t happen again, Tina slept on a sofa next to him for two years until she could afford to get the house altered.
During this time she rarely got a full night’s sleep, as due to his brain injury, Larry needed help to use the toilet - which was often 15 times a night.
The glittering ceremony was held at the InterContinental, in Mayfair London, on Friday 6 December.
Double-Olympic gold medallist and Headway Vice President James Cracknell presented her with the award, recognising her ongoing care for father and her selfless desire to help others, including her local group Headway Bristol.
Peter McCabe, Chief Executive of Headway, said: “Tina is an incredible daughter. When faced with the toughest of challenges, she has shown an incredible strength of spirit and done everything possible to support her father.
“She has given her father constant love and support in what must have been an incredibly tough few years and is a very worthy winner of this award.”Back
