Very many thanks to everybody who has supported Nicola's efforts in the "Fun Run" in June 2011. At the very last moment my amazing physio gave me the all clear to run the London Marathon 2012. Having not been able to run more than half a mile since tearing my calf 3 miles into the Bath Half Marathon then it was uncertain that I would start let alone finish. However, knowing that Nicki was in the Granstand at the finish line and Helen and Sue's amazing work on the leg got me to the finish in under four and a half hours.

The latest good news is that funding has been agreed for Nicki to go the National Star College in Cheltenham. So Nic's finished at QEF on 4th April one year after she started. We have been incredibly fortunate to have both found QEF and to have been funded for Nicki's stay. The progress she is making every week is real, continuing and encouraging. So QEF really does make a difference, so your support has made a difference. Thank you all once again. So on the Monday after the Marathon we drove Nicki to Star to start the next stage of her rehab, she will be working two days a week in the college reception, shop and reception; and spending two days studying including performing arts with all the therapies she needs (physio, SLT, psych etc.) and developnig her life skills also included in a packed week. She has joined the drama club, is going bowling at the weekend and we haven't finished the first week yet!

12 month's ago Nicki had a very serious car accident, as a result of which she spent a month in the Intensive Care Units in the Luton & Dunstable Hospital and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen Square London. On her 18th Birthday Nicki left ITU as she was able to breathe on her own, and stayed in the Acute Brain Injury Unit of the NHNN slowly regaining conciosness and small movements in her right arm. She then moved to the Regional Rehabilitation Unit at Northwick Park Hospital in August. There Nicki worked hard to learn to stand up, sit and walk again, also to speak,eat, read and all of those things we used to take for granted.

For the last year Nicola has been at the Brain Rehabilitation Centre of QEF in Banstead, Surrey where she continued to work hard with the team of specialist therapists there to make further gains since her injury.

From having taken her first faltering steps in December, Nicola completed the one and a half mile fun run at the St Albans Half marathon 55 weeks after her accident. It may be only a "fun run" but represents a marathon for her and us. So please dig very deep and donate now.

Nicki is raising funds for QEF and in particular for the Brain Rehabilitation Centre run by the QEF. Your support here is greatly appreciated. Nic is so positive about her rehab and the team that she would love to help them by raising funds, especially as we know how much QEF has helped her and other people with disabilities achieve the most they can. Their support has taken Nic to college which was once an almost impossible dream, please support QEF to bring about other impossible dreams for people like Nicola.

If you are a UK tax payer please use the Gift Aid facility as it adds 28% to your donation by allowing QEF to claim the tax you have paid back from the tax man! It costs you nothing, but adds almost a third to your donation, so please Gift Aid it