A Life Re-written
This campaign will tell the stories of brain injury survivors and their loved ones who have successfully rebuilt their lives but will also show the realities of life post-brain injury and that positive outcomes aren’t always the norm.
Headway is delighted that BBC The Traitors star Andrew Jenkins is fronting A Life Re-written. Andrew is a familiar face to many after appearing in series 2 of the BBC TV reality show The Traitors, where he was a popular finalist and shared his personal experiences of being a brain injury survivor following a catastrophic car crash in 1999.
As well as sharing his own story as part of A Life Re-written, Andrew has spoken to brain injury survivors Alison, Liz, and Liz’s daughter Justina about how all their lives were rewritten after brain injury. He has also spoken to brain injury survivor and professional photographer David Baker, who has provided the photographs for the campaign.
Andrew said:
“Headway – the brain injury association is an amazing charity doing amazing things to help people rebuild their lives after brain injury. I’m delighted to support this year’s Action for Brain Injury Week and help tell the story of others who have had their lives rewritten by brain injury.”
Video
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hi my name is Andrew Jenkins in January I was a fin list in series two of the traitors since the traitors my life has been crazy but that wasn't the first time my life has been totally or completely Rewritten on August 28th 1999 I was involved in a very serious road traffic accident I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone but I want to be part of this amazing Headway campaign to show people out there who had a brain injury that you can do great things I just didn't feel myself and slowly slowly slowly kind of gradually declined
I three times a week I had no time to react and I went head first into the the side of the van I only have one parent and now this one parent that I have is like Vanishing before my eyes there's no doubt in my mind that helmet saved my life I wouldn't be here now if it hadn't been for that helmet it's not just your diagnosis it's your family your friends diagnosis loved one's
diagnosis so for me now my identity is not a police officer it's a photographer I think without it I'd probably dwell too much on the past and what could have been as opposed to what it can be now how come you ended up making hats I think hats found me rather rather than the other way round I always wanted a board a colleag I wouldn't have got through it without him tell me a little bit more about hry how they helped you they were just so helpful and you know welcoming everybody's goal is different in life you know don't ever set your goals very high to take small steps when you achieve them small steps make sure you celebrate that the work the H we do is incredible and this is nothing we have so you have to
make the life that you've got
Survey Results
In January, as a part of A Life Re-written, Headway launched two new surveys to gain insight into how the lives of brain injury survivors, their families, friends, and carers have been rewritten after brain injury.
Thousands of people affected by brain injury completed these surveys, our largest ever response. Here are some key findings, and a selection of quotes from survey respondents.
Explore the results in the infographic below, or download the full report or a short-form summary to explore the results.
Support the campaign
During ABI week, whether you're an individual or an organisation, we encourage you to highlight the subject of brain injury by sharing your support, your lived experience, and your fundraising events and activities across email and social media.
We’ve put together this digital toolkit where you can access everything you will need!
Find out more on the main campaign page, and if you can, please get involved by donating, volunteering, or simply raising awareness of our services using our social media hashtag #ABIWeek.
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A life re-written
A life re-written will be a campaign that illustrates how brain injury can affect anyone at any time, focussing particularly on how it throws plans into disarray, changes life goals, and even the sens...
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Our Action for Brain Injury Week 2024 campaign, A Life Re-written, has sought to explore these changes and illustrate life before and after brain injury.
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Supporting you
From local groups or branches, our Emergency Fund, Brain Injury Identity Card, helpline and much more, find out how Headway can support you after brain injury.
