Maxwell realises driving dream thanks to Care Connection Partners

A teenager who suffered two catastrophic brain injuries in two separate accidents is fulfilling his driving dreams thanks to sponsorship and support from Care Connection Partners.

Maxwell Stock, now 18, is the son of our Managing Director and Founder Deborah Stock.

After falling from a swing and suffering a severe head injury aged three, Maxwell was given just a 10 per cent chance of survival. He couldn’t smile or talk, his injury affected his vision, it took him two years to learn to walk again and he defied the odds in his recovery.

Unthinkably, in 2018, Maxwell suffered a second brain injury when his scooter was hit by a car. He spent further weeks in hospital, and has been under the care of a neurologist for most of his life.

As a result of the peripheral vision problems associated with his accidents, Maxwell is not able to hold a UK driving licence.

 

However, with sponsorship from Care Connection Partners and support from his Guide Parent and friend, James MacLeod-Birch, who is our Business Development Manager, Maxwell is able to attend dedicated track and drag racing days with two adapted cars.

Maxwell is incredibly proud of Gazza the GTI and Kevin the Clio, the Volkswagen and Renault vehicles which are driven by James to private, off-road events across the region, giving him the supervised opportunity to get behind the wheel and drive automatic cars.

Care Connection Partners sponsors the cars with fuel and maintenance, helping Maxwell to realise his driving dreams.

Maxwell is studying a Public Services course at college with the aim of becoming a police call handler, as he is unable to fulfil his goal of becoming a police officer without a driving licence.

He said: “I feel proud of myself for reaching this point despite everything that has happened.

“I love our track days and it makes me so happy to be able to drive in a safe and supervised environment, as well as being a passenger. I spend a lot of time cleaning the cars and sitting in them.

“We usually take both cars with us, with James driving one and the other on a trailer.

“I’m also very proud of my mum. She is so caring and has always been by my side, supporting me all the way. We try to keep that ‘can do’ attitude and I’m really grateful for the sponsorship from Care Connection Partners.”

 

James taught Maxwell to drive off public roads, equipping him with the basic skills to enable him to participate in track days and drag races on private land, accompanied with signing a waiver with event organisers.

One of the events was specifically tailored to people with visual impairments and disabilities and organised via AbleNet, a global company with a mission to help people with disabilities reach their potential through assistive technology.

Maxwell was able to drive five different automatic supercars, including his favourite Nissan GT-R, accompanied by a driver in the passenger seat, which inspired him to progress further.

James said: “Maxwell picked up driving very quickly and it put a big smile on his face. I love cars too and we started going to car shows and various meets before the track days.

“We’re all so proud of him and everything he has achieved. If we come up against a hurdle, we work together to overcome it. It might take six months but we find a way and Maxwell goes ahead and smashes it.

“You wouldn’t know the adversity he has faced because he wears it so well. Realistically, he shouldn’t be here. But he is and he is excelling at everything he does with a smile on his face.”

James hopes to be able to take Maxwell to the Nürburgring, a 150,000-person capacity motorsports complex in Nürburg, Germany, in the future and enjoy the experience together.

James said: “The ultimate goal is for Maxwell to eventually take his own car to the Nürburgring. We’d also love to get him onto a circuit in the right situation, when and where it’s safe to do so, with me in the passenger seat.”