On 19th March 2022, I suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and my whole life was turned upside down. I was critically unwell and admitted to the Neuro Intensive Care unit in Addenbrooke's Hospital. I required full life support and emergency, life-saving surgery to remove part of my skull and drain bleeding on my brain. My parents were told that I was the most unwell patient in the whole of East Anglia at that time. I wasn't expected to survive.

When I woke up, I was completely paralysed on the left side of my body. I had to learn to walk again and spent 6 weeks in hospital in total. I have had months of rehabilitation since from most healthcare professions you could think of. Your brain is you. An injury to that affects you in every way and I have had to work to recover physically, emotionally and cognitively. I am still working to recover as best as I can today.

EVERY 90 SECONDS, someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with a brain injury. There are many possible causes, such as a fall, a road traffic accident, an assault, a tumour or a stroke. A brain injury can happen to anyone, at any time. When it does, Headway are there to help.

It is a charity that means a lot to me. Myself and friends that have supported me along my recovery have decided to complete the Putney and Fulham Half Marathon. Our aim is to raise as much money as we can for this wonderful charity that supports people who have gone through something very similar to me. Please consider donating. Any amount helps!