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On 15 June 2025, against the odds I found myself participating in the London to Brighton bike ride, whilst supporting a cause that's close to my heart: Headway - the brain injury association.

In 1997 at the age of 29 I suffered a brain haemorrhage that changed my life. Complications during numerous surgeries resulted in a series of strokes, sensory epilepsy, and many years later, a diagnosis of PTSD.

My journey since has been challenging, not just for me but for my family and friends.

I had to learn to walk again and adapt to my ‘new’ life post-brain injury. Being so young at the time, I felt that I didn’t have anyone to relate to and that there was no one who was really able to understand its impact.

I became withdrawn and found my own way of dealing with it – namely denial and avoidance.

Only in the last few years have I started to process the impact of it all, and begun to reclaim my life.

With the support and encouragement of my good friend Claire, I took the opportunity to have a go on a bike one rainy day last April (something I never thought I would be able to do), albeit on the back of a tandem.

My initial goal was to be able to cycle 4 miles to a local café and back, which we achieved on my third time on the tandem. Three months later we managed a ride 3 times as far!

And so together, we took the plunge and signed up for the London to Brighton 2025 cycling event to raise awareness and funds for Headway - the brain injury association and Headway Thames Valley.

And we smashed it!!! We cycled every inch of the route including the infamous Ditchling Beacon.

I can’t quite believe it.

Along with my twin sister and our friend Jo, who did the ride with us on solo bikes, we have already raised over £5,000 for Headway, and so now I am turning my focus to my local group.

Headway Thames Valley is a charity based in Henley-on-Thames helping people to live life after brain injury in Berkshire and South Oxfordshire.

They provide advice, support & rehabilitation to adults living with acquired brain injury and their families and carers.

Having only recently discovered the amazing work of this charity, I realise how valuable their support would have been for me and my family and friends all those years ago, and that I needn’t have had to go it alone, feeling isolated, withdrawn and in denial.

Sharing my story and using it to raise funds for this worthy cause, I hope will inspire others who are in relatable situations, and my involvement going forward will be huge in helping me continue to process the impact of my brain injury and to continue to reclaim my life and live it to the full. To quote Chris McCausland when he won Strictly Come Dancing 2024 “with opportunity, support and determination, anything can happen”.

Please join me in supporting Headway Thames Valley and helping other brain injury survivors on their journey to recovery. Your donation can make a significant difference in their lives.

All funds raised will go directly to the charity.

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

Anne-Marie