26 Miles from Brain Injury

Shaw Gibbs Junior Accountant Amy Gordon, is running the 26.2 mile-long Marathon in 2020 for the first time to raise awareness and money for Headway Oxfordshire. Amy is supporting the Oxfordshire based specialist brain injury support charity and is encouraging people to follow her journey through her blog 26 Miles from Brain Injury.

In January 2019 Amy was admitted to hospital with a bad ear infection. Doctors hoped they could clear up the infection with a round of strong intravenous antibiotics. Three weeks and several near-death experiences later, an MRI scan showed that the infection had spread to Amy’s brain so she was rushed to Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge for emergency brain surgery. Amy has been left with the lasting effects of damage to both her brain and ear.

In July 2019, Amy happened upon the Headway Oxfordshire website. The charity works with those with brain injuries and their carers to identify goals that will enable them to progress with their rehabilitation journey. They also provide a range of activities and services that complement formal rehabilitation including a subsidised transport service. socialisation and peer support. 

Amy says: “I was diagnosed with a brain infection in January this year and it very nearly killed me. Since I came out of hospital in February I have been supported by Headway and they have helped me get as much of my pre-brain injury life back as possible. I am running the Marathon to thank Headway for their continued support and raise as much money as possible so they can support even more brain injury survivors”

Sharelle Holdsworth, Marketing and Events Officer at Headway Oxfordshire, added: “We’re so grateful to Amy for running the London Marathon in aid of Headway Oxfordshire. The money she raises will help the charity to continue to provide a range of support including; advice and advocacy, holistic rehabilitation activities and additional support within the community. Last year, 3,789 people in Oxfordshire were admitted to hospital with a brain injury. This is a 43% increase in the number of hospital admissions over the past 10 years, so there has never been such an urgent need for our support services.”

To help raise funds, Amy is also organising a quiz and silent auction, these will be held on the 19 February. Please contact her via amy.gordon@shawgibbs.com if you would like to donate a lot or take part in the event.