Her 16-year-old son Brian died from a brain injury sustained in a skateboarding accident 18 years ago when he wasn’t wearing a helmet.
Pictured: Alison’s son Brian died 18 years ago in a skateboarding accident where he wasn’t wearing a helmet.
Since then, Alison has spoken out about the importance of helmets – and launched her latest petition after a spate of recent incidents in Jersey.
Earlier this summer, a 12-year-old boy sustained a “significant head injury” following a collision involving a car and an electric scooter on St Aubin’s Inner Road. He had to be taken to Southampton Hospital for treatment.
In the same weekend, another collision between an e-scooter and a car took place on Belvedere Hill in St Saviour, leaving a 26-year-old man in need of hospital treatment for a “serious” head injury.
Alison said: “‘Helmets aren’t cool’ is the real mystery that needs to be solved.”
Pictured: A 12-year-old boy was flown to Southampton Hospital after an e-scooter collided with a car on St Aubin’s Inner Road in June.
She continued: “Brian’s death has been difficult to talk about, and the deep pain of his loss has never left.
“I recently began sharing Brian’s story because of recent accidents on the island and the growing popularity of a variety of wheeled sports.
“Brian would not want other families to suffer from losing a loved one to an injury that can so easily be prevented.”
Alison has also worked in partnership with brain injury charity Headway to launch the ‘Wear a Helmet Jersey’ campaign.
“The goal is to encourage children to embrace simple and sensible helmet safety in all wheeled activities,” she explained.
Pictured: Alison’s petition has already gained over 400 signatures.
Now an Ambassador for Headway, Alison said the charity “recognises that promoting awareness, delivering education and advocating for common sense helmet laws all lead to culture change”.
“They believe the prevention of brain injury is as important as the support they provide to those with brain injuries,” she explained.
“Together we have worked with schools, scouts, Jersey Sport, Jersey Youth Services and various politicians to promote awareness and provide children helmet education.
“We believe if we can get messaging to primary school kids and their parents, a new generation will grow up who just naturally wear helmets.”
Pictured: The ‘Wear a Helmet Jersey’ campaign aims to raise awareness of helmet safety.
Alison added: “A brain injury can happen anytime, anywhere, on anything with wheels.
“The easiest way to prevent or minimise brain injury is by wearing a helmet that is properly fitted and appropriate for your sport.
“The campaign’s slogan encapsulates this idea: Get it. Fit it. Wear it.”
Alison’s petition has so far gained over 400 signatures.
Petitions require 1,000 signatures for Ministers to respond, and 5,000 for consideration in the States Assembly.
The deadline for signing is 6 August, and the petition can be found HERE.