This was awarded to Jason Liversidge who was unable to attend the ceremony but joined the school community in the evening at The OSA Ball, with over 350 guests, to receive his award in person from OSA President Miles Cartwright. His Award was recognised at the Prize Giving and the following was read out at this occasion.
Jason attended both Lisvane & Scarborough College from 1984 until 1992.
After leaving school Jason trained and worked as a mechanic for 9 years. He joined the family business before opening his own business in 2003. In addition to working hard he continued to enjoy an adrenaline filled lifestyle including skiing, grass tracking, motor biking and fast cars.
Jason met his wife Liz in 2009 and after a whirlwind romance, they married less than a year later and soon became proud parents to Lilly and Poppy.
In 2012 Jason’s life began to change. He started experiencing symptoms including weakness and muscle loss in his right hand, tingling down the left side of his body and slurred speech. He was eventually diagnosed with Fabry Disease in November 2012. Fabry Disease is an extremely rare, life limiting condition, which causes toxins to build up in the body leading to global organ damage, including kidney failure, heart failure and eventually death.
If this wasn’t enough for Jason and his family to deal with and accept, his symptoms continued to progress. He was subsequently diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in August 2013, at the age of 37.
MND is a rare, rapidly progressive illness that strikes without warning and can kill within months. It damages the nervous system leading to weakness, muscle wasting, severe disability, paralysis and death. The victim is unable to move, speak, swallow and eventually unable to breathe. Professor Stephen Hawkings, former Rugby Union international Doddie Weir and Leeds Rhinos Rob Burrow have all been diagnosed with MND.
As a family they were devastated. With two daughters aged 22 and 4 months old they didn’t know how they would cope or what the future would hold for them. Their plan was simple – Live every day like it was their last.
Since his diagnosis, Jason has achieved some amazing things and raised much needed money and awareness of MND through some amazing challenges and continued to enjoy life.
They were acutely aware that Jason would eventually need to use a wheelchair and as a result would need to adapt their home. This is where Jason first featured on our TV screens, through BBC 1’s DIY SOS. It was an old school friend and OS Catherine Brennand who suggested they should apply for DIY SOS and helped with the whole project, which as a result has been a godsend.
Jason also had a bespoke voice (complete with a Yorkshire accent) created for him, again with the help and samples of his Scarborough College school friends.
Since his diagnosis and failing health, Jason has raised thousands of pounds for charity by undertaking some incredible challenges including;
- Conquering the Longest Zip Wire in Europe and the Fastest in the World.
- He became the first person to summit Mount Snowdon in an Electric Wheelchair*
- He has abseiled off the Humber Bridge (whilst paralysed) and he has abseiled into Lancaster Hole, a 100 feet deep pot hole, which is part of the largest caving system in Britain
- In 2020 he set a Guinness World Record for the Fastest Electric Wheelchair achieving a whopping speed of 66.826mph. *
As a family they have supported charitable organisations such as Dove House, Marie Curie, the Motor Neurone Association and Fire Fighters Charity. He has also raised money for the Bendrigg Trust an organisation that provides out of bound activities for severely disabled and disadvantaged children.
Jason has two terminal illnesses, he is paralysed from the neck down and he is unable to speak, eat or breathe on his own. He needs round the clock care and everyday is a challenge, but he will never give up and still hopes that one day there will be a cure.
Many people call him inspirational, although Jason doesn’t like the word and believes that he is just an ordinary man making the most of the time he has.
Jason is an example to others. He has highlighted what can be achieved with a positive ‘can do’ attitude and true Yorkshire Grit, even in the face of extreme adversity.
*featured on the news pages of the website
Photo credits Richard Ponter