An inspirational teenage survivor of stroke who has raised thousands for charity has been named as a finalist in the 2023 Stroke Foundation Stroke Awards.
Buderim's Jackson King is in the running for the Stroke Warrior Award, which recognises children and teens (aged 18 and under) who have raised awareness of stroke, supported the recovery of a loved one, or shown drive and resilience in their own recovery.
The 14-year-old, who had a stroke in utero, recently raised almost $1,500 during Stroke Foundation's major annual physical fundraiser, Stride4Stroke.
Jackson is also on track to swim in the 2032 Paralympics and recently competed against the best young talent in the country at the Australian Age Swimming Championships in Adelaide.
Jackson's Mum Kerri said he's counting down the days until the award ceremony in Melbourne next month.
"Jackson is so worthy of this award, he is passionate about advocating for people with a disability. I'm sure he will work for Stroke Foundation one day," Mrs King said.
"An award like this is so important because it shines a light on stroke in children and highlights just how important fundraising and research into stroke is."
Stroke is one of Australia's biggest killers and a leading cause of disability. Around 600 Australian children have a stroke each year. Around a third of all strokes in children occur under one year of age.
Stroke Foundation Interim Chief Executive Officer John De Rango congratulated Jackson on being selected as a Stroke Award finalist.
"Jackson is an inspiration, it's great to see a young person so passionate about fundraising while shining a light on childhood stroke," Mr De Rango said.
"He's only 14-years-old, but I'm sure we will go on to see Jackson achieve many great things, including swimming on the international stage."
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 survivors of stroke, carers, volunteers, fundraisers, health professionals and researchers.
The finalists are:
- Jackson King, Queensland
- Elena Lu, New South Wales
- Noah Barlow, Victoria
There are seven categories in total: Stroke Warrior, Improving Life after Stroke, Creative, Courage, Fundraiser of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and President's Achievement.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Melbourne on May 4, 2022.
