Great success for brain injury awareness event

A woman's inspirational journey of recovery following a stroke was the highlight of a two-day conference to raise awareness of brain injuries.
Dianne Yates, partner at Birchall Blackburn Law, Janet Staff, chair of Headway Lancaster and Morecambe Bay, keynote speaker Kate Allatt, and Kelly Hutton of Birchall Blackburn LawDianne Yates, partner at Birchall Blackburn Law, Janet Staff, chair of Headway Lancaster and Morecambe Bay, keynote speaker Kate Allatt, and Kelly Hutton of Birchall Blackburn Law
Dianne Yates, partner at Birchall Blackburn Law, Janet Staff, chair of Headway Lancaster and Morecambe Bay, keynote speaker Kate Allatt, and Kelly Hutton of Birchall Blackburn Law

A woman’s inspirational journey of recovery following a stroke was the highlight of a two-day conference to raise awareness of brain injuries.

Kate Allatt, who beat Locked-in Syndrome, was just one of the speakers who made The Brain Injury Conference, Invisibly Different, at Lancaster House, a great success.

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The event, in aid of Headway Lancaster and Morecambe Bay, was so popular, organisers are now hoping it will became an annual occurrence.

Supported by Birchall Blackburn Law and SJB Chambers, the conference was called Invisibly Different because often it isn’t apparent from a person’s appearance that they have a brain injury.

Dianne Yates, partner and head of serious and catastrophic injury for Birchall Blackburn Law, which has offices in Preston, said: “The conference was a great success, raising much needed funds for Headway Lancaster and Morecambe Bay and attended by more than 70 people, our initial thought is to run it again next year and build the event into an annual conference.

“Kate Allatt gave an inspirational talk about her struggle with and through Locked-in Syndrome which was very well received.

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“The evening barbecue and gig which Pleural Tap headlined was attended by members, their families and carers, plus speakers and exhibitors and was a high energy, upbeat and very enjoyable evening.

“And the mix of legal and non-legal presentations combined with the speed networking worked very well together.

“We are still working out the final total for monies raised by the conference, but it is more than £3,000 at this stage.”

The conference is the first ever arranged by a Headway branch to help raise funds and lift the veil on the reality of living with a head injury.

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Janet Staff, chairman of Headway Lancaster and Morecambe Bay, added: “Our aim was to host a conference with a difference.

“The speed networking had everyone up on their feet at regular intervals. Delegates had just two minutes to explain who they were and what they did before moving on to their next partner.

“The feedback we’ve received tells us delegates found the whole experience a refreshing change.”