Head First

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In 1998, Beverley Pettifar asked Anthony Strong, the surgeon who had operated on her husband twice, how her family could support the neurological unit of Guys’ Hospital. As a result of that conversation, HeadFirst was founded with the following aims:

• To fund and promote research into head injuries, stroke and associated brain damage.
• To “pump prime” projects which might attract support from other funding bodies in the field.
• To purchase research equipment and help with the salaries of research staff
• To make major grants to programmes at the forefront of stroke and head injury research.

In support of these aims Headfirst has raised more than £50,000 over the past 10 years. Contributions have come from a wide range of sources and activities with particularly important donations arising from the entertainment work of Miss Cheryl Baker and from the grateful patients of Professor Strong.

The charity is somewhat unusual in that it has no premises to pay for nor salaries. No trustee has ever claimed personal expenses and the absolute minimum is spent on administration, the cost of which is more than met by interest on capital. This means that every penny donated by well wishers goes to the charity’s aims.

Headfirst supports research into head injuries, stroke and associated brain damage.

The human brain weighs approximately 14oz and is the most complex structure known to man.

Most of us take our brain for granted. We don’t give it a second thought, until we get a headache. But when a head injury or stroke occurs, the victims and their loved ones suddenly realise just how delicate, vulnerable and mysterious the brain is. And just how little we know about it.

Set up by three people who have all had first hand experience of head injuries and illness, HeadFirst is a charitable organisation dedicated to the funding and promotion of research into head injuries, stroke and associated brain damage.