Generous Donations From Public And Business Will Help Vital Work Of Headway Surrey

Published on: 5 Jul, 2018
Updated on: 5 Jul, 2018

Headway Surrey, based at North Road, Stoughton, is a registered charity that supports people with acquired brain injury.

Generous spectators at the Guildford Cricket Festival, Surrey v Somerset, put £1,000 into Headway Surrey’s collecting buckets.

Pictured at the cricket festival, from left: the mayoress, Jean Parsons; Headway Surrey trustee Roy Fiander, the mayor, Mike Parsons; and the High Sheriff of Surrey, Jim Glover.

Roy Fiander, Headway Surrey trustee and from Guildford, was one of the many volunteer collectors on the day.

The Mayor of Guildford, Mike Parsons, has chosen Headway Surrey as one of his charities for the year.

A spokesperson from Headway Surrey said: “The spectators know that cricket can be a risky game producing fractured skulls and concussion.

“A head injury could potentially be long lasting and devastating to a player. Balls are so fast now, that players may not have enough time to react. Representatives of Headway Surrey were overwhelmed by the generosity of the spectators.”

The spokesman added, however, that there is no direct evidence of long-term deficits following exposure to concussion in cricket.

However, recent research into the long term consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) has suggested that profound neurodegenerative changes may be a consequence of repeated moderate TBI such as those seen in boxing and traumatic / contact sports including American football and rugby often, referred to as chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

The new Guildford branch of MW Solicitors has donated £5,000 to Headway Surrey.

Sonja Freebody (left) receives a cheque for £5,000 from MW Solicitors.

Headway Surrey’s chief executive officer, Sonja Freebody, said, “This donation is a much needed boost to our Surrey service. It is fabulous to be supported by the Guildford business community.

“Our annual running costs are £200,000, we are a small local charity however we achieve a lot for all of those who attend and their families.”

MW Solicitors deal with clinical negligence and personal injury, including brain damage, where cases can be multi-million pound claims against the National Health Service or high-value personal injury claims.

A street collection in Guildford by a team of 26 volunteers raised £496.25 to help support adults with acquired or traumatic brain injury.

A street collection in Guildford by Headway Surrey volunteers raised £496.25

Some of the volunteers included those with brain injury and their partners. This was a new experience for some of them, stimulating different brain pathways by interacting with the public.

The collection will go towards supporting the centre’s work to open for an additional weekday.

To support those over 18, who have sustained a traumatic brain injury from, for example, a road-traffic accident, sporting accident, work incident, a fall, trip or slip or from a medical issue such as a stroke, heart attack, brain tumour or encephalitis.

Headway Surrey offers specialist cognitive rehabilitation in a safe and caring environment to re-build damaged executive skills.

Generally the fastest recovery is within the first two years.  Some clients only need to attend for six months and the average is two years.

However, slow-stream cognitive recovery can continue for decades and many of its clients have been using the services for two to 10 years.

If you have an acquired or traumatic head injury or brain injury and would like support with cognitive rehabilitation contact Headway Surrey.

You can self-refer or be referred by a health professional http://www.headwaysurrey.org/ 01483 455225 enquiries@headwaysurrey.org

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