The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, has announced its 2026 Stroke Hero Awards, honoring seven individuals and groups from across the United States who are reshaping what life after stroke can look like. The awards, presented each May during American Stroke Month, celebrate survivors, caregivers, health care professionals, and community organizations whose actions support people affected by stroke through connection, education, and shared experience.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the U.S., and recovery often involves navigating lasting physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges, as noted on the American Stroke Association's website. This year's honorees demonstrate how personal experience can become a source of strength for others.
The winners include: Felicia Veasey of Summerville, South Carolina, named Caregiver Hero for rearranging her life to become her mother's full-time caregiver and coordinating a public webinar on caregiver mental health; Lamont Causey of Detroit, Community Impact Hero, who regained function after a 2019 stroke and now educates under-resourced communities; and Nasheel Joules of McKinney, Texas, B.E. F.A.S.T. Hero, who recognized stroke signs in her husband and called 911, leading to prompt treatment for a transient ischemic attack.
Group Heroes include The Aphasia Recovery Connection in Leland, North Carolina, which provides free support and education to over 20,000 members living with aphasia; Marina Ganetsky of Needham, Massachusetts, Pediatric Hero, who suffered multiple strokes at age 10 and now speaks at conferences and wrote a book for children with brain injuries; and Gabriela Raso of Missouri City, Texas, Survivor Hero, a physician who insisted on a CT scan that confirmed her stroke and co-founded The Stroke Foundation to advocate for expanded access to therapies. The Voters' Choice Hero is Stacie Barber of Peoria, Arizona, a physical therapist who guided her husband's recovery from a large bleeding stroke and shares their journey with over 1 million social media followers.
Winners were selected by a nationwide panel of volunteer judges, except for the Voters' Choice Award, which was determined by online popular vote. For more information, visit Stroke.org/HeroAwards.
