Fundraising

Last week, the two charities I support most, as a result of personal experience and my work with my clients, Headway (the Brain Injury Association) and SIA (Spinal Injuries Association) had annual events taking place.

Last week was Action for Brain Injury Week, culminating in Hats for Headway Day on Friday.  This is an opportunity to raise awareness and to fundraise for a really worthwhile charity.  Headway, the Brain Injury Association, is a national charity supporting survivors who have sustained brain injuries as well as their families.  It has 125 groups and branches across the UK, which in turn provide support, services and information.  Headway’s frontline services also include a free helpline, the brain injury identity card (to assist in everyday situations) and Headway Acute Trauma Support (HATS) nurses who assist families during a patient’s acute treatment.  Information includes a variety of leaflets and booklets on aspects of brain injury and its implications, as well as a directory of approved rehabilitation units, respite facilities and residential homes.

Headway also maintain an approved Headway Solicitor’s Directory of solicitors and law firms with the requisite experience, who have all agreed to work within Headway’s personal injury lawyers’ code of conduct.

Friday was also Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day, raising awareness of the 50,000 or more people living with spinal cord injury in the UK and Ireland, many of whom have suffered brain injuries as well.  It is a harsh reminder that such injuries can happen to anyone, at any time.  According to the SIA, recent research suggests that every 8 hours someone in the UK sustains a spinal cord injury.  The focus of the day, however, is to demonstrate how worthwhile and ful­fill­ing life can still be after such a life-changing injury.

Five charities, Aspire, Backup, SIA, Spinal Research and Spinal Injuries Scotland have all come together with the support of their ambassadors, Steve Bram and Lucy Shuker for this national event.

In the autumn, my colleagues and I will attend the very worthwhile SIA solicitors’ training day to ensure our knowledge of the latest developments and issues affecting our clients is up-to-date.

Meanwhile, for spinal cord injury awareness day, I will be doing my bit once again this year when I host my fourth annual fish ‘n’ chip supper in aid of the SIA.  The event is a little later this year, no doubt due to the royal wedding celebrations, and so we are hoping for a warmer evening in a couple of weeks’ time.  Invitations have been sent out, the balloons and banners have been ordered from SIA and I am looking forward to a relaxing evening of fund raising and catching up with a dozen or so old and new friends.  A gourmet supper will be provided courtesy of our local chippy, followed by homemade Eton mess and washed down with one or two bottles of prosecco.  Bliss!

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