On the 29th of September 2019, I participated in the Robin Hood Half Marathon. With three miles to go and feeling great, I glanced down at my watch; that’s the last thing I remember. The next thing I recall was lying in the back of an ambulance going in and out of consciousness. I had blacked out and suffered a concussion that a doctor wouldn't diagnose until two weeks too late. Due to the late diagnosis, I suffered from Post Concussion Syndrome, a dark chapter in my life. 

At my worst, I couldn't walk properly, dress or even wash myself. I couldn't finish simple sentences, do basic maths or even, at times, remember how old I was. I was perpetually fatigued, had constant headaches and slept for large parts of the day. It took three months to get back to work and six months to be able to work full-time. However, even after being back at work, the ongoing physical recovery would take longer, and the mental impact is still a journey I'm on today.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but despite all the hurt and trauma, I'm rerunning the Half Marathon again. There are trauma triggers left, right and centre, but I want to write a new story. It's time to face my fears. I want to do it to raise awareness around concussions and raise funds for Headway, who are doing fantastic work improving lives after brain injuries. This time I'm calling it the Headway Half.

I won't be doing this alone, though. I will be running with two of the best you'll find, Dave Southey and Matt (Tommo) Thompson, standing with me on this journey. I would love to invite you, if you felt you could, to be part of this journey too, by donating to the goal of raising £1000 for Headway.

Thank you for taking the time to read my JustGiving page.