Earlier this year, Andrew captivated TV audiences as he disclosed his near-fatal car crash in 1999. Feared dead at the side of the road, Andrew sustained a severe brain injury, and doctors initially told his parents he would never walk or talk again and might not even wake from his coma. Against all odds, Andrew made a miraculous recovery, being described as a "miracle patient”.
Andrew, from Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, is now excited to announce his monumental route, which will take him through all four UK nations, walking up to a staggering 40km per day.
He said:
“I am really pleased to be able to take on this challenge. My recovery has been a long journey, and I am passionate about talking about my experiences and encouraging others to talk about the adversities they’ve faced in life. This route is the perfect opportunity and I’m so excited to meet people along the way, and to raise awareness of the incredible work that Headway does for brain injury survivors across the UK.”
Andrew will walk between castles in the UK, starting from Ardross Castle in Scotland where The Traitors was filmed, down to Cardiff Castle in his home city. His journey will include stops at Lancaster Castle in England and Carrickfergus Castle in Northern Ireland.
‘The Big Trek’ will start on September 29 and is expected to take over 40 days. You can see more information about Andrew’s route below.
As well as taking on the physical challenge, Andrew is on a mission to raise awareness of brain injury among communities along the way, by talking about trauma and the importance of addressing mental health openly.
Headway works to improve life after brain injury by providing vital support, advocacy, and information services to brain injury survivors and their families.
The money that Andrew raises will go towards essential Headway services, such as the Emergency Fund, which helps family members be at the bedside of their loved one in critical care, or the charity’s nurse-led helpline, which provides essential information and emotional support to brain injury survivors and their families.
Jen Murgatroyd, Headway’s Director of Fundraising said: "We are proud to have Andrew champion our cause and I’m sure his journey will give hope and inspiration to other brain injury survivors."
Supporters can contribute to his cause by donating at Andrew’s Givestar page.
The Big Trek route
