November 2016 – Love Barrow Awards

Christine McCracken has been nominated for the Citizen of the Year Award sponsored by Furness Building Society.

Christine McCracken has been volunteering at Women’s Community Matters in Barrow since June 2016.

Christine started out as a user of the centre and successfully completed courses and graduated from the project and is now the Drop-in Co-ordinator and has become the real heart of the service. She welcomes new women to the Centre during the regular drop-in sessions and manages the cleaning, organising and recording each week. She always has a smile on her face, despite all she has been through, and truly lights up the lives of the women who use and work in the centre and has become the real heart of the service.

Christine is also a keen fundraiser and is always making jewellery to sell as well as a coming up with new fundraising ideas. In her efforts over the last month she has raised over £100 for women in crisis.

Left- Christine at the centre – Photo from WCM

“She has a warm, non-judgemental and accepting way of being that makes women feel safe and secure.”

Christine also has a family who she cares for, including an 11 year old son with autism who she supports with daily care and is a real advocate for autism awareness and support. Christine has previously struggled with her mental health but has overcome her own struggles and now provides a listening ear to others who are struggling.

There isn’t another woman in this world who has a heart like Christine’s. Just the other day she was making an inspirational quote for a woman who felt low – so she could hang it on her wall at home. The ladies at the centre think it’s time for Christine to truly be recognised for all she has achieved and for the wonderful work she does each week here at WCM.

Well Done Christine!

If you know a person, a group, charity or business who deserves some recognition then you have until the 18th November 2016 to nominate them for a Love Barrow Award 2017.

[DKB url=”http://lovebarrowawards.co.uk/nominate/” text=”NOMINATE NOW” type=”large” width=”175″ color=”#f7b2bf” opennewwindow=”no”]

Please note all information is from the nomination form (s) and some information may be incorrect at time of publishing.

Lynda and Dave Gomersall have been nominated jointly for the Carer of the Year Award sponsored by Cumbria Clinical Commisioning Group.

Lynda and Dave Gomersall have been nominated by their son Scott for the care they have provided him after he returned home from hospital in 2014.

In 2013, Scott, who at the time owned his own business, SDG Accountants in Barrow, suffered a Subarachnoid Haemorrhage suddenly while at work. He was rushed to Furness General and from there, thanks to the speed of the doctors and the team he was transferred to Preston Neurological Rehabilitation Unit. That night doctors told Lynda and Dave that their son was unlikely to make it through the night and it was best to say their goodbyes while they still could.

Against all odds Scott survived the night and finally regained conscious after being in a coma for 3 weeks. Scott went on to spend the next 10 months in Preston NRU working tirelessly with the team there to recover. Scotts Father, Dave, continues to work even though he was due to retire and Scott’s mum, Lynda stayed in Preston in a special unit for relatives, then rented a room in Preston to be able to attend hospital every day. With sheer determination and hard work alongside the dedication of his parents, Scott learned to do many things again that we all take for granted such as learning to sit, up, chew food and finally having to learn to walk again.

Scott was then released home, where he moved back in with his parents, who have adapted parts of their home to accommodate Scott and his continuing rehabilitation. Dave has continued to work to help support Scott and the family while Lynda helps take care of Scott throughout the day as well as looking after her own mother who recently suffered a stroke and suffers from Dementia.

“Without the time and support from my parents I don’t know where I would be today but I’m sure I would not have achieved what I have to date”

Scott defied the odds and thanks to the continued support and love of Lynda and Dave, has been able to start to get back to normal and start to contribute in small ways within the community by volunteering with the Love Barrow Awards, which previously he had sponsored the Young Citizen category with his business SDG Accountants.

Lynda and Dave are a fantastic example of how families are sometimes the foundation that the rehabilitation and care of loved ones are built on once they leave the hospital.

Well Done Lynda and Dave, you are amazing people!

If you know a person, a group, charity or business who deserves some recognition then you have until the 18th November 2016 to nominate them for a Love Barrow Award 2017.

[DKB url=”http://lovebarrowawards.co.uk/nominate/” text=”NOMINATE NOW” type=”large” width=”175″ color=”#f7b2bf” opennewwindow=”no”]

Please note all information is from the nomination form (s) and some information may be incorrect at time of publishing.

Month: November 2016

Citizen of the Year 2017 Nominee – Christine McCracken

Christine McCracken has been nominated for the Citizen of the Year Award sponsored by Furness Building Society.

“She has a warm, non-judgemental and accepting way of being that makes women feel safe and secure.”

Carer of the Year 2017 Nominees – Lynda and Dave Gommersall

Lynda and Dave Gomersall have been nominated jointly for the Carer of the Year Award sponsored by Cumbria Clinical Commisioning Group.

“Without the time and support from my parents I don’t know where I would be today but I’m sure I would not have achieved what I have to date”