Burns charity founder nominated for national award

A woman who survived a bomb attack in Bali has been shortlisted for a national award for her work supporting burn survivors.

Polly Brooks, from Guildford, was herself severely burnt in the attack in 2002 which killed 202 people in two nightclubs.

She set up Dan's Fund for Burns in honour of her husband of five weeks who died in the bombing.

Now, Brooks says it has "warmed my heart" to be one of five finalists in Tiptree's Britain's Morning Heroes.

Brooks has, over two decades, helped raise almost £4m to support burn survivors across the UK.

Her charity runs weekly online peer support chats, moderated so that burn survivors can talk to others who understand the complexities of their injuries.

Burn survivor Maureen Pickles nominated her for the award.

She said: "I was severely burnt in 2024 and being able to converse with other burn survivors on the weekly peer support chat line is an incredible support."

Brooks said: "Life has been a rollercoaster with many lows since Bali, but also some great highs and it's warmed my heart that Maureen took the time to nominate me."

The award winner will be announced in November after a public vote.

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