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My name is Pam and I am trying to raise funds for Headway Portsmouth and South East Hants branch.  My very shy friend Popsicle (so called because she's always cold) is going to run the race for us.  I will be cheering her on and feeding her cake to keep her going, also acting as team coach and chief fundraiser!  What a team!

My story began in October 2007 when my husband Tony suffered a massive seizure whilst on holiday in Crete it was only hours before we were due to fly home.  He was taken to hospital where he spent four days on ITU before being sent to the main ward.  However what was going on?The man who woke up was crazy!!! He spent 5 days like this, often his condition would deteriorate so much I did'nt think he would pull through. When he eventually improved he had no memory!! He could remember me but couldn't even remember our pets or long standing friends, he certainly had no idea we were in Crete.  He left hospital and 15 days later than we should have we arrived home accompanied by a Doctor! It turned out that he had contacted pneumonia as a result of the fit which explained the high fevers he'd had. Then began the long hard slog to get him better, he was weak, tearful and confused. Everything was strange to him. Where was the confident happy man he had been?  Over the coming months he grew stronger but still had no memory and things just weren't right!  Bills went unpaid, post got filed away without being dealt with, calls went unanswered, I was even left sitting in the park waiting for him whilst he went home, he'd forgotten all about me!!

Eventually he went back to work but how he struggled he was overcome by fatigue and struggled to remember things, depression was starting to set in.  I was at my wits end, I didn't understand what was going on and had nobody to talk to that could understand.  Tony was so down that I had to keep smiling but I was really worried about him.

Then in a roundabout way I stumbled across Headway.  I read their website with tears streaming down my face.  Now I knew what was wrong with Tony he had an aquired brain injury (abi). No doctor ever mentioned that to me!  No wonder it's called the hidden disabilty.

I phoned our local branch of Headway in Portsmouth and quickly received a referral form which I completed and sent back.  I soon had a call from a lovely lady called Jean who had a long chat with me about how things were, here at last was someone that understood.  She is the deputy service manager and she invited me along to the drop in group on a Monday morning.

I went along and since then I've never looked back!  What lovely friendly people I met, the other carers and the Headway staff, here where people that knew just what life was like now.  Since then I've attended every week and have made some fabulous friends, we laugh together, cry together, rant and rave but we're all there to support each other.  Advice is freely offered, nobody is ever judgemental. We also support each other by email between sessions and informal coffee mornings are held at family members homes to keep up the support network. 

Our loved ones with ABI can also attend their own drop in and numerous other sessions during the week. Computing, music therapy and gardening are a few things on offer, also memory classes! It's a chance to be with others who are experiencing the same problems. Headway staff and volunteers are always on hand to offer support and encouragement. 

So dear friends you can see every single penny makes a huge difference to Headway, each branch is self supporting so Headway Portsmouth and South East Hants need every penny they can get. There is a waiting list of people wanting their services so they are stretched to the limit. There is a constant battle to get funding (thanks Joy for all her efforts) and always something needed,  a new kettle to be bought, plants, digital camera and funding for music therapy. So please donate soon , even £1 would help.

Tony is much better but life is still a struggle for him, his memory never returned and he is no longer able to work but we're keeping positive.

And a final thank you for Popsicle, rumour has it if we raise enough she'll dress up.... did I hear a pink tutu mentioned?

Days to go and we've reached our £200 online target, thank you all so much for your donations.  Sneak a look at the tutu!!  If you are free on the 25th come down to sunny Southsea and cheer Pops on.... I doubt she'll share her cake!

A sale of jam at work added another £43.10 to our total!