On the 6^th September last year (exactly a month after our second child was born), my wife Alexandra suffered a Subarachnoid Haemorrhage - which effectively was a bleed on her brain caused by an aneurysm spontaneously rupturing. She was emergency helicoptered to Bristol South Meads Hospital where she underwent surgery which saved her life and then endured a 21 day critical period during which a number of horrendous and potentially fatal things could have occurred, but by some will of God, and the incredible care she received from the doctors and nurses at both South Meads and The University Hospital of Wales, we are incredibly fortunate that she made it through and although we still have a long journey ahead, is looking to make a full recovery with no obvious long term effects.

I`m sure you can imagine this was an extremely terrifying time for our family, however Alex is in a very small category of people who go through this and come out as well as she has on the other side. Whilst in the ICU we had an insight into what could have happened to her via the condition of some of the other patients on the neurological ward, at varying degrees of long term brain damage and paralysis. We learnt then of the support provided to them by Headway Cardiff and the incredible work they do. As soon as Alex was well enough we started discussing ways in which we could help them. 

Headway offer both practical and emotional support
to patients and families, helping them to deal with the trauma associated with a brain injury and the long term effects it can have on your life. For full information on the range of services Headway offer please visit their website www.headwaycardiff.org.uk
but I can assure you that from meeting people dealing with life after a brain injury and hearing what Headway as an organisation mean to them that they are an extremely worthy cause.

To aid this fantastic organisation and help them to continue providing support to brain injury patients in our local community – something which Alex came so close to requiring – we have decided to arrange
a black tie dinner and dance at The Hilton Hotel in Cardiff on Thursday 19^th April with all proceeds from the night being donated to Headway Cardiff.

The event will be hosted by Welsh comedian Rod Woodward, there will be entertainment from the Debbie Chapman Dancers and guest
speaker for the evening Wales and British Lions rugby legend Jamie Roberts, as well as a live band to see the night through.

We hope to generate income on the night via table sales, an auction, raffle and prize draws with some incredible items available.
It is set to be a great evening and hopefully we will raise a lot of awareness and funds for a very worthy cause along the way. 

However, if you are unable to attend the event but would still like to support the cause any sort of donation to the charity would be extremely appreciated. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your support. 

Chris and Alex.