Brave Bruce wins national award

02 December 2011

An Essex man who has defied his own disabilities and dedicated the past eight years of his life to helping people whose lives have been affected by brain injury has won a national award.

Bruce Galleway, from Great Bentley, has been named Volunteer of the Year in the annual awards run by Headway - the brain injury association. Bruce, who beat-off competition from across the UK, was presented with the award at a glittering ceremony held at London's Dorchester Hotel on Friday 2 December.

In 2000, Bruce suffered a severe stroke. He spent almost four weeks in intensive care fighting for his life and remained in hospital for four and a half months. Bruce was just 32 at the time.

The effects of the stroke were devastating. A qualified yachtsman, Bruce had previously spent his leisure time travelling the world sailing and scuba diving. But the stroke left him paralysed down his right-hand side - a shattering blow for a man as active as Bruce. In addition, Bruce had very limited speech for an entire year following the stroke.

Slowly but surely, Bruce began to rebuild his life and come to terms with his disabilities. He began to attend Headway Essex, part of the national charity that works to improve life after brain injury, which provided a supportive social environment where he did not feel embarrassed and instead gave him the opportunity to boost his confidence and regain his independence.

This was just the beginning for Bruce. His recovery continued and he eventually retook and passed his driving test, which gave him a new sense of freedom. He also joined a computer studies course at a local college and soon became an expert in IT. Wanting to give something back to all those who'd helped him along the way, Bruce began sharing his new-found skills by volunteering at Colchester General Hospital, helping with communications aids.

Not content with helping just one good cause, Bruce then began volunteering at Headway Essex, neighbouring group Headway East Suffolk, Tendring Specialist Stroke Services, and Colne Stroke Group. Each week, he spends three or four days helping services users at the charities, primarily focussing on helping people affected by brain injury improve their computer skills. He has also built websites for various charities and regularly gives talks and presentations to increase awareness of brain injury and raise funds for Headway.

Bruce was presented with his award by Beverley Turner, wife of double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell, who sustained a brain injury in 2010, and Peter McCabe, Chief Executive of Headway - the brain injury association.

"Bruce is an incredibly generous and caring individual who has defied his own disabilities to help others," said Peter McCabe. "He has worked hard to rebuild his life following his stroke and demonstrated courage and determination along the way.

"Despite still being affected by his own brain injury, Bruce has dedicated his life to helping other brain injury survivors, using his own personal experiences to enable others to reach their potential.

"He's a very deserving winner of the Headway Volunteer of the Year award."

The Headway Annual Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of people with brain injuries and those working to support them.

Other winners collecting their awards at The Dorchester Hotel in London were Max Muteliso (Achiever of the Year), Sandy Allis from Lincolnshire (Carer of the Year), Aberdeen's Michelle Coulson (Campaigner of the Year), and Norman Keen from London (The Stephen McAleese Outstanding Contribution to Headway Award).