A WARRINGTON grandmother has won an award for her campaigning to raise awareness of ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Retired teacher and special needs co-ordinator Jean Fitzpatrick was recognised at the ADHD Foundation annual awards for her outstanding campaigning achievements.
She is a volunteer and member of the Parent Advisory Board at the ADHD Foundation, a national charity based in Liverpool.
Jean became involved in the foundation through their parent and child course with her seven-year-old grandson. 
Jean’s son, now 42, also had ADHD as a child.
There are more than 500 families in Warrington with an ADHD diagnosis and believed to be many more without one.
Jean campaigns for local ADHD support services to help local communities and families. She also forges connections between families and the ADHD Foundation, ensuring they are pinpointed to receive the assistance they need.
Along with sitting on the ADHD Foundation Parent Advisory Board, Jean is also involved in the Warrington Parents and Carers Forum and in the Warrington Council Child Development Centre.
She said: “I feel extremely humbled to receive this award, as I didn’t come into this for any reward, I just wanted to help other families. I knew there was a lot of families struggling in my area and I felt compelled to help. There is very little in the way of support services for families with ADHD, I want to help change that.
“I have 40 years experience living with ADHD and my former career was centred around supporting children with special educational needs, I therefore felt I had too much experience to not do anything to help others.
“The ADHD Foundation has been fantastic, and are just as impassioned as I am to bring ADHD support services to the forefront.”
ADHD Foundation chief executive officer Dr Tony Lloyd, said: “The ADHD Foundation annual awards recognise the amazing efforts by trustees and the parents and children that access the foundation. Jean is helping to transform the lives of not only her own, but many other families living with ADHD in Warrington.
“Jean has become a wonderful asset to the Foundation and to ADHD awareness in general, she works tirelessly and her passion and drive is inspiring. She really is a champion for families in Warrington who have children with ADHD.”
Picture: Jean Fitzpatrick receives her award from Dr Lloyd.
Award for campaigning grandmother
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
