The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, has announced the seven recipients of the 2026 Stroke Hero Awards, honoring individuals and organizations whose actions are redefining what life after stroke can look like. Recognized annually during American Stroke Month, the awards highlight survivors, caregivers, health care professionals, and community groups that support people affected by stroke through connection, education, and shared experience.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, and recovery often involves navigating lasting physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges, as noted on the American Stroke Association 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, recognized as the Caregiver Hero. After her mother’s second stroke, Veasey became her full-time caregiver and later organized a public webinar on caregiver mental health. Lamont Causey of Detroit, the Community Impact Hero, regained his ability to speak, swallow, and walk after a 2019 stroke and now shares his story to support survivors in under-resourced communities.
Nasheel Joules of McKinney, Texas, received the B.E. F.A.S.T. Hero award for recognizing her husband’s stroke symptoms and calling 911 immediately. The couple raises funds for the Association through an annual Christmas light display. The Group Hero award went to The Aphasia Recovery Connection of Leland, North Carolina, a nonprofit that provides free support and education to over 20,000 members living with aphasia, a common post-stroke condition.
Marina Ganetsky of Needham, Massachusetts, the Pediatric Hero, suffered multiple strokes at age 10 due to a ruptured AVM. Now 15, she speaks at conferences and wrote a book for children with brain injuries. Gabriela Raso of Missouri City, Texas, the Survivor Hero, insisted on a CT scan that confirmed her stroke after ER doctors missed it. She co-founded The Stroke Foundation to advocate for expanded access to therapies. Stacie Barber of Peoria, Arizona, the Voters’ Choice Hero, used her expertise as a physical therapist to guide her husband’s recovery from a severe bleeding stroke and shares their journey with over 1 million social media followers.
Winners were selected by a panel of volunteer judges from the American Stroke Association, except for the Voters’ Choice Award, which was determined by online popular vote. For more information, visit Stroke.org/HeroAwards.
