Well-deserved congratulations are in order for Elliot and Sophie Clayton as the Jindalee siblings earned recognition for their work and dedication to raising awareness about childhood stroke.
Elliot and Sophie have both received the Stroke Warrior Award at the 2022 Stroke Foundation Stroke Awards. The recognition is a brand-new category for people under the age of 18 years old who advocate for stroke awareness, recovery, and fundraising to help patients.
Sophie was only 4 years old when she suffered an unexpected stroke. She was playing with a cousin when she suddenly collapsed. Mum Amanda recalled that Sophies’s right side “completely disappeared.” Recognising the signs of stroke, Amanda called for an ambulance. Sophie was rushed to the hospital, where she received life-saving treatment.
Sophie’s experience has highlighted the fact that this medical emergency can happen to anyone in an instant. Thankfully, her brother was instrumental in her progress and recovery. Elliot helped Sophie regain use of her weak side, alongside the therapies recommended by her doctors.
After surviving the trauma, Sophie and her brother have now made it their mission to educate the public about the risk of stroke in children.
For years, Elliot and Sophie have been speaking to politicians and state representatives to raise funds for stroke survivors and their families on the journey to recovery.
Each year, Elliot and Sophie have also been setting goals for her to achieve so that she can maintain her health.
“They have been ambitious, and they have been brave. Their efforts have been commended by the politicians they have targeted, and constantly impress our wider community,” said Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan.
“If this is the future of Australia’s advocacy community, we’re all in good hands,” she added.
About the Stroke Awards
The Stroke Awards celebrate the unsung heroes in our community who go above and beyond to improve the lives of Australians affected by stroke. This includes the survivors of stroke, carers, volunteers, fundraisers, health professionals and researchers and members of the community.
For more information on the risks and symptoms of stroke, visit strokefoundation.org.au