On the 28th of October 2021, my eldest daughter Georgina (Gee) suffered a bleed to the brain. This came totally out of the blue for her and was caused by the haemorrhaging of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) that had been undetected in her cerebellum since birth.

"Brain injury can challenge every aspect of your life, walking, talking, thinking, and feeling, the losses can be severe and permanent. It can mean losing both the life you once lived and the person you once were." It is something that I never believed could happen to my daughter, but every year around 350,000 people are admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury. That's one every 90 seconds.

In order to raise awareness myself, my daughter Em and her fine young man, Eph, are running the Shakespeare Half Marathon in Stratford upon Avon on the 24th of April for the charity Headway, whilst Gee and Ness sit and watch...most probably with some cake.

Continuing with day-to-day life after a brain injury is the most important thing for any brain injury survivor, and Headway is there to give that vital advice, help, and support. The funds you will help me raise will support its network of more than 125 groups and branches across the UK, providing support, services and information to brain injury survivors, their families, and carers, as well as to professionals in the health and legal fields. The charity also works tirelessly to raise awareness of brain injury and the devastating effects it can have.

If you can spare a little, please do, you'll be helping people get the right help, at the right time, so there can be life after brain injury.

Rich