Update on the ‘Brave’ Awards for carers
By Liz Lockhart
A while ago we reported on the Shire Brave Awards for carers and now we can bring you an update with 
a new press release. The original report can be read here. Just a quick reminder that all entries must be in by 31st August and that entries from the UK are very welcome.
Press release from Shire PLC:
Noted Author, Speaker, and Publisher, Gary Barg Joins BRAVE Awards Selection Committee
Gary Barg, Editor in Chief of Today’s Caregiver, and author of The Fearless Caregiver, has agreed to serve on the Selection Committee for the Shire BRAVE Awards. The Shire BRAVE Awards (www.ShireBRAVEawards.com) is the first and only international awards program designed to recognize the courage and dedication of non-professional caregivers, honouring everyday heroes who provide regular, consistent care of another person.
Mr. Barg is the founder of Today’s Caregiver, the first national magazine for caregivers, as well as the original online caregiver community, www.caregiver.com. He hosts The Fearless Caregiver Conferences, which bring together caregivers across the country to share their knowledge and experiences, and is the author of The Fearless Caregiver, a book filled with practical advice, poetry and inspirational stories. The recipient of several media and writing awards, Mr. Barg also currently sits on the Boards for the American Association for Caregiver Education and the National Adult Day Services Association.
“As a family caregiver himself, Gary understands the important role played by caregivers in the lives of those they care for,” said Angus Russell, Shire’s Chief Executive Officer. “He is a renowned writer, speaker, and publisher, who has successfully connected thousands of caregivers since the launch of his publication nearly two decades ago, and we welcome his expertise as we seek to find the 2011 BRAVE Award winners.”
“Caregivers don’t usually see themselves as brave or heroic, and they are unaware that their own stories can inspire other caregivers and remind them they are not alone,” said Mr. Barg, who hosts annual Fearless Caregiver Conferences across the U.S. “By honouring everyday people whose care for others transcends the norm, the Shire BRAVE Awards can help change that perception. I am excited to partner with Shire in their continuing efforts to recognize these truly outstanding individuals.”
Nominations for the BRAVE Awards are currently being accepted through the official website at www.ShireBRAVEawards.com until August 31, 2011 and winners will be announced in November 2011. The Shire BRAVE Awards is the first and only awards initiative of its kind and is designed to recognize the courage and dedication of non-professional caregivers, honouring everyday heroes who provide regular, consistent care of another person.
A caregiver is defined by the Shire BRAVE Awards as an individual who is providing regular, consistent care for another person. The caregiver cannot be a professional healthcare provider and cannot be compensated in any formal way through their employment as a caregiver. There are no restrictions on the type of care being provided, and the care recipient need not be prescribed a Shire medicine or treatment.
