Behçet’s UK Members Award 2023
Awarded to Clare Gibson
Clare was attending the Invictus Games Homecoming Celebration, so unable to accept the award in person. Clare sent an acceptance video and Tony presented the award to Clare’s military colleague and friend, Peter McAllister, who accepted the award on her behalf.
The award presentation was delivered by Behçet’s UK Chair, Tony Thornburn, at the 2023 Conference & AGM held at the Mercure Telford Centre Hotel, Telford, on Saturday 21 October 2023.
Clare Gibson has been a member of Behçet’s UK since 2014 and has had Behçet’s for approximately 20 years, yet only diagnosed in 2012. Clare has shared her story to help fellow patients in our members newsletter in Spring 2020 and was also interviewed for our online series “Your Behçet’s Story” in March 2021.
Clare has been described as ‘an inspiration of positivity’. Clare mentioned, herself, her ‘inspiration’ was part-triggered by reading ‘Man Down’, written by a Royal Marine Commando who had lost an arm and both legs above the knee whilst in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Characterised “not by the loss of what she used to do”, but by embracing “what she can do now” when Clare makes a commitment, she not only sticks to it, she exceeds it! An example from the Bike for Behçet’s, Run for Rare challenge and fundraiser in 2020 set a target to hand-cycle 452 miles – double the original challenge target. She ended up hand-cycling over 700 miles!
But it is what Clare has been doing for others that this is all about. “She never lets others down”. Not only does she support fellow-patients when attending the London Centre of Excellence herself, but she also volunteered to set-up a Behçet’s support group. Initially covering the Thames Valley area before expanding it to run an online support group for anyone affected by Behçet’s in England.
Comments we have received, include:
“Clare has great listening skills”
“Very calm, level-headed”
“Works to achieve the best outcomes for people”
“Clare has fantastic empathy for others and will go out of her way to help people and support them”
Clare is now of course ‘The Face of Behçet’s UK’ representing Great Britain in the Invictus Games last month in Dusseldorf., where she won 3 gold and 3 silver medals.
Going back to the earlier comment about Clare being supportive to others, this was epitomised at the Invictus games, when Clare literally ’fired-up’ the whole stadium to support fellow athlete, Rola from Jordan, and stayed by her side while she completed her 100m wheelchair race.
So on behalf of Behçet’s UK Members, I am honoured to present the 2023 Behçet’s UK Members Award to Clare Gibson.
Bike for Behçet’s Run for the Rare
Invictus Games – IT8 women’s 100m wheelchair race
