My friend Edwin who recently retired from professional football has for the second and last time been successful in persuading me to run the New York Marathon which will take place on the 4 November 2012. This crazy challenge is going to be extremely painful for us as we are not really built for running but we’ve chosen to accept this challenge for a tremendous cause.

The challenge I’m facing is nothing compared to that experienced by many people and their families when suffering a brain injury. Edwin's wife Annemarie is an example. Her life changed in an instant when she suffered a brain injury. Suddenly she was unable to complete the most basic of everyday tasks that most of us take for granted.

A brain injury can affect anyone at any time. It can strike without warning in the form of a road traffic collision, fall, or assault, or as a result of a stroke or illness. However it occurs, the effect can be devastating. A brain injury can affect every aspect of you: walking, talking, thinking and feeling. It can mean losing the life you once led and the person you once were.

In the UK, each year more than 135,000 people are admitted to hospital following head injuries. In addition, approximately 150,000 people have a stroke. For many of these people, life will never be the same again.

For Annemarie the rehabilitation was successful, but for those who continue to struggle, she and her husband have started the Edwin van der Sar Foundation.

The Edwin van der Sar Foundation has formed a partnership with UK charity Headway - a brain injury association. Headway works to improve life after brain injury. Through its network of more than 100 groups and branches across the UK, Headway provides practical support, rehabilitation services, and information to brain injury survivors, their families and carers. The charity also produces a range of award-winning publications containing information about all aspects of brain injury, lobbies for better support and resources to be made available to people affected by brain injury, and works to raise awareness of brain injury and the devastating effects it can have. Your donation big or small is much appreciated and will go towards projects in the UK undertaken by the partnership.

For information about Annemarie and the Edwin van der Sar Foundation visit www.edwinvandersarfoundation.org/en/ or to find out how Headway can help, visit www.headway.org.uk.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!