Brain injury fundraiser receives British Empire Medal

8 hours ago

Naj ModakYorkshire

News image — Dominic Hurley chose to receive his medal in Rotherham as it "was something good" for the area

Supplied A white man with grey hair is standing with his arms clasped in front of him. He is smiling and wearing a navy blue three piece suit, with a white short and yellow tie. He has a medal with a red ribbon on his left lapel — Dominic Hurley chose to receive his medal in Rotherham as it "was something good" for the area

A man who has raised more than £100,000 for charity after suffering a serious brain injury has received a British Empire Medal during a ceremony at Rotherham Town Hall.

Dominic Hurley, 52, was told he may never walk or talk again after falling off a moped in Cyprus in 1994, but went on to defy the doctors' expectations.

Since then, he has raised funds and awareness for a number of organisations, including brain injury charity Headway, and was recognised for his efforts in the New Year Honours.

He said he had chosen to receive the medal in Rotherham rather than at Buckingham Palace as it was where he had done most of his charity work and it was "something good" for the area.

Hurley said the award recognised his "long-standing support" for people living with brain injuries and said he had been "totally taken aback" by the news.

Headway Dominic Hurley laid in a hospital bed with a bandage on his face. There is a doctor wearing scrubs in a hospital ward. — Hurley suffered his first brain injury after falling from a moped in Cyprus

Hurley was 21 when he was injured in the crash and spent three months on a coma.

He said he then suffered a second brain injury 10 years later and had wanted to do something in recognition of all the people who supported him.

He said most of his fundraising challenges included using a spinning bike at the gym and in shopping centres, and riding a bicycle.

Hurley has also written a book about his life and how he has overcome multiple injuries.

He said his message to people was that "life is not over" after injury or illness.

"The medal is for me, but it's for all the people, every single person that put any money in the buckets, any people that joined me on the bikes," he said

"A lot of people have helped me get to this stage.

"I just wanted a big thank you to everybody that's helped me a lot along the way."

Hurley was presented with the honour by the Mayor of Rotherham, Rukhsana Ismail, and the Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Prof Dame Hilary Chapman.

He is due to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

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