On the morning of the 3rd of April, my lovely, beautiful Mum, Andrea, suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm. This is an extremely dangerous, life threatening condition that results in bleeding both within and around the brain. Most often, it occurs when a weak area in a blood vessel (aneurysm) on the surface of the brain bursts and leaks. The blood then builds up around the brain and inside the skull increasing pressure on the brain. There are usually no warning signs. Subarachnoid haemorrhages can happen at any age, but are most common in people aged between 45 and 70. Slightly more women are affected than men.

My mum was rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge that afternoon where she had life saving brain surgery to seal off the affected blood vessel and relieve the pressure on her brain. Thankfully, the surgery was successful and she received incredible, world class care and support at the neurology unit at Addenbrooke’s. Quite simply, without Addenbrooke’s my mum would not be here today. As a teaching and research hospital and regional centre for brain trauma linked to the University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s has a worldwide reputation for neurocritical care. Through donations to the Addenbrooke’s charitable trust, Addenbrooke’s can provide a level of patient care beyond that which can be delivered by NHS funding alone. Charitable donations fund high-tech equipment, specialist staff, extra comforts and vital research to find potential cures and help save lives locally, nationally and worldwide. 

However, there is still a long road ahead. My mum survived her brain injury but still remains in hospital with a long and challenging recovery ahead of her. For survivors, a brain injury can lead to a wide range of difficulties in day-to-day life and the more severe the brain injury, the longer-term and more pronounced the effects are likely to be. We all think 'it will never happen to me', but every year around 350,000 people are admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury.

That's one every 90 seconds.

This is where the role of our second charity, Headway, comes in. Headway is the UK-wide charity that works to improve life after brain injury by providing vital support and information services, including:

* a freephone helpline (0808 800 2244, helpline@headway.org.uk);

* a comprehensive award-winning website containing information and factsheets on all aspects of brain injury (www.headway.org.uk);

* an award-winning range of booklets and publications designed to help people understand and cope with the effects of brain injury;

* an emergency fund to assist people dealing with the financial implications in the immediate aftermath of a brain injury;

* a Brain Injury Identity Card to help in everyday situations and if you come into contact with the criminal justice system;

* a directory of approved residential homes, rehabilitation units and respite facilities specialising in ABI.

The charity also lobbies for better support and resources to be made available to people affected by brain injury and works to raise awareness of brain injury and the devastating effects it can have. A network of Headway support groups and branches across the UK and Channel Islands provides a wide range of services including rehabilitation programmes, carer support, social re-integration, community outreach and respite care to survivors and families in their own communities.

Headway's local groups and branches work hard to raise funds at a local level to continue to provide and develop the services they offer.

Myself and an incredible group of friends will be attempting to walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge this summer. The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge is a 24-miles (38.6km) round trip route, and includes 1585m (5200ft) of ascent, which takes on the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent (694 metres), Whernside (736 metres) and Ingleborough (723 metres), usually in this order, and in under 12 hours.

Whilst my mum’s brain injury will always be with her, please help me support the organisations that have made it possible for her to rebuild her life. She is incredibly fortunate to be alive, but we are incredibly lucky to have her. She is still the best person I know and my aim ultimately is the same as it has been my whole life - to make her proud. With the right help and support, there can be life after brain injury.