Joanna Eastough
Reason for nomination:
I am 56 years old, I have Parkinsons, and have been honoured these past 2 years to have learned to play walking football and now play for 3 teams, including the England Walking Football team and PD Pioneers, a team for women with neurological conditions.
Joanna Eastough is an incredible Neuro Physio that supports both those teams with her specialist and expert knowledge and guides the team on how to stay well, fit and healthy.
Neuro conditions like Parkinsons are incredibly complex, and she completely understands what knowledge, skill and approach to take with each individual and the team as a whole.
Her capacity to support us both physically and psychologically is incredible. Her care, understanding and positivity means that she not only guides us as players, but teaches our coaching team, supporters and referees about how best they too can learn how to coach people with specific and challenging needs.
She strives to keep learning, she shares her knowledge with other professionals and her impact in our football community is wide reaching.
She also supports another Neuro team based in the Midlands called "Movers and Shakers" and this year has started playing as Goal Keeper for them.
She is a truly talented woman that gives freely of her time to support others, and above all is a throughly amazing mum to 2 young children and a loyal friend to many.