After work one day, many years ago, I rode off on my motorbike to play tennis with an old school friend who I had met the previous evening after a long absence. The next thing I knew/could remember was leaving a hospital four weeks later, one of which was spent unconscious, after fracturing my skull in a road traffic accident.

The next few months were spent recovering; somewhat dazed and a little confused and increasingly frustrated by my apparent inability to do basic things that I used to take for granted, e.g. writing legibly,  running (backwards was a huge feat!), walking with a cup of tea without spilling it, remembering things from one day to the next...to name but a few that come to mind.

Though the legacy of my head injury is still felt when playing certain sports, (balance remains suspect and one leg moves rather sluggishly), I have been extraordinarily fortunate to live my life as happily, fully and successfully as I have done.

A few years ago I started volunteering at one of the Headway day centres. Helping there has allowed me to meet some wonderful people, each finding their own way to live with the legacies of their head injuries. Though finishing a triathlon represents to me its own (huge) challenge, far greater are those  faced every day by those using Headway who have to meet the challenge of every day life, head-on.