London Marathon

[p]I am running the London Marathon in April 2019 in support of the Homerton Hope – the Charity for Homerton Hospital. I am raising funds for the brain injury service to build a memory resource library for the clients to trial in hospital and in the community.[/p][p]An acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury caused to the brain since birth. There are many possible causes, including a fall, a road accident, tumour and stroke. In 2016-17 in the UK, there were 155,919 admissions for head injury. That equates to 427 every day, or one every three minutes![/p][p]Memory impairments are amongst the most commonly reported cognitive deficits following an ABI. They disrupt the ability to participate effectively in activities of daily living, as well as social, leisure and vocational activities, and can cause significant problems on discharge from hospital. Clients may forget to take medication, to turn off the oven, or to attend appointments. They may forget what they have been told, where they have left things, or how to get to important places. A memory resource library will allow clients and their therapists to work together to trial a variety of low tech devices before they purchase them themselves. Low tech options would include white boards, alarms, talking watches whereas high tech options include iPads, phone apps, motion sensor voiced alarms and electronic medication devices.[/p][p]I have been working professionally in the brain injury rehabilitation field since 2009 as both an occupational therapist and case manager. This cause may be smaller than others asking for donations but I know it is truly worthwhile. The RNRU Outreach is a community brain injury team at the Homerton, and over for the past four years that I have worked here, I’ve seen the fantastic work they do and believe that having access to this resource will better the lives of the clients they work with.[/p][p]A marathon is 42 kilometre (26.2 miles) race which will require 16 weeks of training 3-4 times per week, racking up 40-50kms of running each week but it will be worth it for a cause I truly believe in.[/p]