Paul Smith
Paul's Wheels In Motion 2022
Fundraising for Headway Portsmouth And South-East Hampshire
Story
On Sunday 25th September 2022 I will complete 300 laps (100 miles) of the Mountbatten Centre outdoor velodrome in a recumbent hand-bike to raise funds and awareness for Headway.
My name is Paul, I'm 63 years old and live with a head injury and went in to lock-in syndrome for 12 years, I live with constant migraine pressure on my brain 24/7, I also sustained several other physical injuries including my spine and my whole body is in constant pain everyday, there is no let up. However I consider myself very fortunate and recognise that there are many people in the world far less fortunate than I, I do not allow my head injury or being in a wheelchair to define who I really am. I sleep for 2 hours a night, usually between 2-4am and continue to defeat PTSD and Depression even single day, I consider life to be too short to allow my own position to get the better of me.
About Headway
Headway are a charity supporting adults who have acquired brain injury and their carers and family members, based in South East Hampshire. Headway support the brain injured person in coming to terms with brain injury and reintegrating into their community through a wide range of programmes designed to enable independence, increase wellbeing, build new skills, relearn old skills lost through the brain injury and improving personal choice. Portsmouth Headway are affiliated to Headway UK but receive no financial help or support from them and are entirely responsible for their own service delivery. They deliver a range of programmes and activities from their base in Portsmouth, programmes aimed at supporting independence and wellbeing; cognitive reablement and educational and work skills programmes. Headway Portsmouth also provide outreach services where people can get information and advice and peer group support through social, sports and activities, they support people at the earliest stage of their rehabilitation, sometimes whilst still in hospital their aim is to promote understanding of all aspects of brain injury and to provide support, information, advice and services for people with a brain injury, their families and carers Although brain injury is often categorised as a physical disability, it is described as a hidden disability as it leaves people with damage that often cannot be seen, but has a tremendous impact on the individual’s ability to reintegrate into community life. Many brain-injured people are left with personality changes, slowed responses and lack of insight into their limitations, have poor communication and memory difficulties, as well as physical and mental changes. Brain injury does not usually affect normal life span, so the problems that these people face often remain with them for the rest of their lives.
I have always said “I bought a ticket of a lifetime, And I intend to use it well”
What is my fundraising target? As Headway Portsmouth receive no funding except through donations and fundraising I would like to attempt to raise £10,000 to help with the running costs and staffing of the centre.
Best Wishes.
Paul