Just got back from an interview on the local community radio station. Talked bit about my TBI, subsequent recovery, and the help Headway have been in that. I think it went well; I never dried up or swore, and got to talk about my 'closure' challenge, which was my real reason for contacting them in the first place. Unfortunately they only went live on FM a few weeks ago, so do not yet have the facility to 'listen again'.
On June 20th I am going to start out at first light, to complete The Way of The Millennium. staffordshire.gov.uk/enviro...
I will cycle along a former railway line to Newport, before returning to where I started, a total of 20 miles. I will then carry on on foot to the end of The Way. I will pop in to Burton Fire Station, where I was stationed as fireman for three years from 2000, my first station when I started in the fire service. I will then return on foot, before dark, to where I had parked the car. As the summer solstice is the next night, then hopefully there should be enough light to allow me to finish before it is dangerously dark. Fingers crossed! I am hoping to run much of the flat part of the route, but will walk when it goes off the canal towpath before rejoining it again. 10+ miles of walking and route finding there & back , plus some resent injuries and loss of time training, may mean I might have to walk more than I want to, so I may be 'pushing' it to get home before dark. Even if I have to walk quickly most of the 60 miles i should have enough time to get back before it is dangerously dark.
I have called this challenge 'closure', not because I think my 'recovery' is over, I was told by a consultant, that what I had accomplished by 18 months would be it. TWADDLE, I am still progressing. Nor have I named it 'Closure' because l have finished doing physical challenges; preparing for them has certainly helped my psychological and physical well being, but doing these events to raise money for worthy causes, has become not only rather onerous, but has probably also rinsed my family, friends and colleagues wallets dry. People could be forgiven for diving for cover when they see me coming! This will be the last time I come cap in hand to people! The benefits will be Headway, who helped me so much, and the total arrived at, will be split 50/50 between National Headway and South Staffs Headway, where I was a client. I started before I left hospital, and graduated to concentrate on my unsuccessful attempt to return to operational firefighting. Any pennies you can spare would be very gratefully received, and allow Headway to continue with the excellent support they provide to the survivors of brain injury and their families. My family and I benefited from its services, and would like to enable other survivors and their families to be helped to! You can donate from as little as £2 at Justgiving. If people know anyone who might be interested by my appeal, (Particularly if they are loaded 
) I would be very grateful if you could direct towards my appeal.
Thankyou,
Neal Evans,
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Headway Acute Trauma Service Nurses - R.I.P.
