Your friends are fundraising. Don't miss out, opt in.

Grab even the slightest chance

Rolf Zartner is raising money for Headway - the brain injury association
Donations cannot currently be made to this page

London Marathon 2024 · 21 April 2024 ·

Join Team Headway in the London Marathon 2024 and help to improve life after brain injury.

Story

In March 2020, I suffered 4 strokes, a bad episode of sepsis and one cardiac arrest, age of 46.

After 8 weeks in intensive care I was told that I might never return to work and possibly remain a life long nurse case. 

During the two brain surgeries the surgeon had to make a split decision to either paralyse me or take some of my memory skills away. He went for the latter. 

A thousand times I asked myself ‘why me’ I concluded that life sometimes just goes this way and decided not to waste longer my energy on this question . 

I noticed that feeling came back on my left paralysed side and I became obsessed with moving hand & shoulder bit by bit. I refused help to walk ( like wheelchair and crutches) . I wanted to do it myself. I worked a whole week under tremendous pain and then one morning . I stand up and walked slowly with support . 

Since then a 40 months gruelling daily rehabilitation regime started and 11 months later I returned to work and exactly one year after my accident I ran a half marathon  ( and 11 since). 

Many brain injury victims have no education or financial resource to fund therapies. I was in a great spot . Raising  money for Headway is very close to my heart and hopefully supports  others.

I want to raise awareness that as long as there is a tiny improvement it is worth fighting for it. Consistency pays off. I am a living proof and will now run the London Marathon in April 2024. Don't give up and keep going my friends.


Donation summary

Total
£17,402.22
+ £2,713.75 Gift Aid
Online
£15,302.22
Offline
£2,100.00

Charities pay a small fee for our service. Learn more about fees