Headway Cardiff is a local charity which provides support for those with acquired brain injury in south east Wales. Every year, more than a million people attend hospital A&E departments in the UK following a brain injury. Head injury is the foremost cause of death and disability in young people, with approximately 50% of deaths in people under 40 due to head injury. Traumatic brain injuries can be caused from things such as falls, assaults, road traffic accidents or industrial accidents- things that we are all at risk of every day.

The effects of brain injury can be devastating for the individual as well as their family and friends. As well as a risk of death people can suffer paralysis, epilepsy, loss of speech, loss of sight, problems with memory, attention and concentration, anxiety, depression and changes in personality such as difficulty controlling anger or impulsiveness.

Headway aims to increase awareness and understanding of brain injury and its consequences, along with providing the necessary support to those with brain injury and their families, to help them attain the highest possible quality of life. Amongst its services are a day centre, Head Start- a rehabilitation programme specifically for young people, a help lime, information, counselling and promoting awareness of brain injury. Please check out their website for more information: http://www.headwaycardiff.org/index.htm

During my time working on a brain injury ward at a rehabilitation hospital I experienced the devastation caused by head injuries daily. The patient that affected me most was a 21 year old lad who fell off a bar stool on a night out, resulting in a traumatic brain injury that left him with locked in syndrome, i.e. his entire body was paralysed and his only form of communication was by blinking his eyes. If by forcing myself to run 26.2 miles (which really is a stupidly long way to run!) I am able to help improve the quality of life for those such as this young lad, then I think that’s worth it. I do however, need your help to do this as well, so please spare any money you can and sponsor me on this stupid feat I have got myself into.

Cheers peoples, Becky xx