A nurse with 21 years of experience in Accident and Emergency, Geraldine Burdett had just moved into a new role in the health service when she was injured in a fall from her horse. After five months in hospital, she headed home with the twin goals of making progress in rehabilitation from the injury and getting back to work. She faced both with a positive ‘can do’ attitude and support from the Foundation.

‘Gez’ quickly became a regular at the Get Busy Living Centre and says: “From the minute I arrived, I sensed that Tilly, the physio, ‘got it’ and that we were going to get me walking again. It is tough, but we set our goals, the team get you believing in them and we worked very hard together.”

From that starting point, she made so much progress that she was able to get back on her horse, complete a 5K walk and start jogging on a treadmill. But Gez knows the journey is about so much more than physical injury. “The confidence and knowledge you get from being at the Centre, hearing from the team, being around the beneficiaries, that is so important,” she says.

“I wanted to get back to work, and having confidence was a big part of doing that.

“I’m a positive person and nursing makes you resilient, but being at the Foundation definitely teaches you how to be the best that you can be. I have great support with my husband, family, friends and colleagues but also having the Centre is fantastic. The staff instil in you that you can achieve your goals, you build that trust and the belief that you can do it too.”

Gez received the Stand Out Dedication Award at the Get Busy Living presentations in 2023, as someone who has dedicated themselves to fulfilling their goals and optimising their recovery, both physically and mentally.