Shave to Raise! I’m going to be shaving my head for charity - the hair will be going to the Little Princess Trust and the donations will be going to Headway Surrey. 

I have 17 inches of hair that I will shave and donate to the Little Princess Trust - a charity that makes wigs for children and young adults who have lost their hair as a result of medical conditions or cancer treatments. Read more about their story and great work here https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/. 

Imagine reaching a point in your life where suddenly you lose all sense of self, your memories and your freedom. 

In 2018, my dad’s life dramatically changed when he was taken ill to hospital with what was later diagnosed as Autoimmune Encephalitis. My dad came home early from work one day after suffering from intense migraines. After consulting the GP, he was told that it was the flu and rest was needed. That night he had his first seizure. All of a sudden, he was rushed to hospital, completely unresponsive and a coma was induced for his own safety. He spent a month in hospital - the first two weeks on a ventilator. At this stage, no one was sure what was triggering the seizures. No doctor, not even experienced Neurologists could give our family a clear answer. The only thing we were told is that, the longer my dad was in a coma, the greater the damage would be on his brain and that was if he were to pull through. 

Thanks to the relentless work and support from all the doctors and nurses my dad fought his way back. But the after-effects of Encephalitis are life changing. Though my dad looked the same, it was clear that there was a lasting impact on his brain, in particular his memory and cognitive function. This heavily affected his concentration, information processing and problem solving and my dad found himself in a position where he had to give up his job, licence and independence. 

It’s now been 3 years and I am extremely happy to see my dad back behind the wheel. A big part of this was down to the fantastic work of Headway Surrey. They focus on providing Cognitive Rehabilitation Support to survivors of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) to stimulate new neural pathways, improve memory and strategies to help with planning, decision making and overall well-being. I have seen the amazing work they do first-hand and to see my dad in a much happier and healthier condition is really a testament to their work. 

So to say a big big thank you, I am raising money to fund the services Headway Surrey provide for those who have experienced either an Acquired or Traumatic Brain Injury. These services include one-to-one sessions, specialist worksheets, group sessions, home community visits, hospital liaison visits, befriending scheme, helpline, family support, education sessions, training and talks. Any donation counts and your generosity is going to help give more people like my dad support on their journey back to normality. 

For further information about Headway Surrey please visit https://www.headwaysurrey.org/.

Thank you for your support, 

Shyam