Saturday, December 8, 2012
7:30 AM

A SUFFOLK woman who has devoted most of her life to caring for her brain-injured brother has won national recognition for her commitment.

Tracy Beckingham, 48, from Leiston, was presented with the Headway Carer of the Year award for giving round-the-clock care to her brother Darren, has lived with severe brain injury since being knocked off of his bike in 1986.

Aged 15, he spent ten weeks in hospital before being returned home to Ipswich, where his family assisted him in relearning the most basic of functions like swallowing.

Tracy was 21 when the accident happened, but she immediately dedicated her life to helping her mother look after Darren, feed him, bathe him, assist with his rehabilitation exercises, and give him with love and support.

Tracy eventually moved out of the family home, and Darren now has help from care support workers, but she continues to visit each morning, despite living 30 miles away and working full time.

She also stays over one night a week to provide Darren with the round-the-clock care he requires, in addition to looking after him at the weekends, and allowing her mother Margaret.

Tracy said: “I really didn’t think I would win. There were so many emotional stories of other people nominated.