On January 16th 2009 Stuart Bowler was involved in a serious car crash near to his home in Glasgow. He was rescued by paramedics and firefighters and rushed to Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. He was admitted to intensive care where he was diagnosed with 'Diffuse Brain Injury' - Stuart had several areas of bleeding in his brain and was very ill. He was ventillated and monitored.
After 16 days in ICTU and HDU Stuart finally opened his eyes. Nearly 3 months on, having made very little progress, his sister Cheryl finally heard her Brother speak to her. Stuart was starting to 'come around'. At the beginning of May this year Stuart was admitted to The Central Scotland Brain Injury Rehab Unit based in Wishaw. Here Stuart receives care from specialised nurses, physios, psychologists, speech and occuaptional therapists almost all day everyday working to get him better. 2 months since he was admitted to the unit Stuart has made a lot of progress, though he still has a long journey ahead of him. His family have been his rock - he doesn't go a single evening or weekend without a familiar face, another vital part of his rehab.
The Central Scotland Brain Injury Rehab Unit looks after 23 brain injury patients. The funding they receive is eaten up with the vital care they provide - I am running the New York Marathon in order to be able to thank some of the people who have helped Stuart on his road to recovery. The unit would like to use the money to build a summerhouse for the patients and their families to be able to use - regardless of what the weather in Scotland throws at them!
Half the money will go to the Unit, and half will go to Headway - a charity which promotes all aspects of brain injury and to provide information, support and services to people with a brain injury, their families and carers. Stuart, and anyone else who has suffered a brain injury depend upon charities like Headway to allow them to live their lives to their full potential.
My aim is to run just wee bit quicker than I did in London - aiming for a finish time as close to 3hours 30mins - please dig deep to keep my legs going!
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So please dig deep and donate now.
