Fellow Epilepsy Bereaved founding members were among many people who nominated Jane for the award, they said;
“Since 1992 Jane has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of SUDEP in the UK and worldwide. She uses her many talents to talk and work with health professionals and politicians, coroners and pathologists, other epilepsy organisations, people with epilepsy and the bereaved families”.
“Thanks to Jane’s dedication, her stamina and her many talents Epilepsy Bereaved has grown, from being one of the smallest epilepsy charities into one of the most influential. She remains as enthusiastic today as she was eighteen years ago, determined to continue the battle to research the reasons for SUDEP and so decrease the number of deaths”.
“It is hard for us to express our relief at discovering and meeting other families who had suffered as we had. We, and many more people, owe a huge debt of gratitude to Jane for realising what was needed and having the commitment to see it through”.
“Under Jane’s leadership the charity set up a support line for people affected by SUDEP breaking the isolation of the families and providing information on SUDEP and other epilepsy deaths. Today the charity manages 1000 calls a year and each year provides support for over 100 newly bereaved families”.
John Lipetz, Chair, Epilepsy Bereaved;
“As a result of her activities throughout the charity’s life, Jane has become a focal point of reference on the issues surrounding SUDEP, both nationally and, indeed, internationally. Her opinion and advice is sought by a wide variety of individuals and organisations in the UK and worldwide”.
Tricia & Graham Odd;
“Congratulations Jane on this richly deserved award. Public recognition of the wonderful work you have done to help bereaved families and to raise the profile of SUDEP is long overdue.
Membership of Epilepsy Bereaved is one which we would all rather not have but one which has provided us with much comfort over the years. Your commitment to the charity has never wavered and we are delighted that you have at last received this honour. You should be very proud of your achievements; we are certainly very proud of you”.
Sandie & Roger Scrivens;
“Jane Hanna was our contact at Epilepsy Bereaved when we lost our daughter Becky to SUDEP in May 2004. The empathy, sympathy and practical support she provided helped us survive those darkest of days. Subsequently, encouraged by Jane’s enthusiasm and dedication, we have directed our efforts towards supporting Epilepsy Bereaved in its mission to assist others in dealing with the horror of SUDEP”.
A bereaved parent;
‘The work that Jane has done, both to support us and other bereaved families, and to make Epilepsy Bereaved a significant player in epilepsy research and campaigning, will also have saved lives, many of them young lives. There can be no higher accolade in terms of a person’s contribution to society.
I have little doubt that Jane could have chosen to deploy her many talents to excellent effect in any field. For me, the measure of a person is not the talents that they have, but the use to which they are put. I am grateful, as are many families, that she chose to campaign on behalf of people with epilepsy’.
Linda & Chris Price;
“Many, many congratulations on your OBE!! You certainly deserve this wonderful recognition for all the support you have given to bereaved families. We don’t know what we would have done without you. I remember meeting you at the Guildford meeting a few weeks after we lost Laura and it was such a comfort to know that you understood and indeed had experienced the same loss”.
