BRAIN INJURY SURVIVORS CALL ON THE PEOPLE OF CORK TO SUPPORT NEW €2M STATE-OF-THE-ART RECOVERY CENTRE
A group of survivors from Headway, Brain Injury Services & Support, have launched a fundraising campaign for a new €2 million state-of-the-art brain injury recovery centre in Cork.The campaign launch was held at Cork City Hall in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Mick Finn, as part of National Brain Injury Awareness Week, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of brain injury and to give a voice to those affected.
“Living with a brain injury can be hard,” said Stephen Forrest. “Every Cork person who has a brain injury from a stroke, accident or other trauma will probably need to access vital services and support from Headway at some point as they cope with their injury.”
“It’s a difficult road for all survivors and for their families, but Headway is there to help,” continued Stephen Forrest. “However, Headway’s current Cork facilities are not sufficient to support anyone trying to cope with such a life changing injury.”
At the end of 2018, Headway purchased a site on the Carrigrohane Road which the organisation has been renting for a number of years. Headway’s ambition is to merge its current services in Ballincollig and Carrigrohane, to deliver a rehabilitation centre for people living with brain injury on the Carrigrohane site.
Pic: Brian Lougheed
“We have reached a critical point in time – a new centre needs to be built,” according to Liz Owens, Head of Headway Rehabilitation Services in Cork. “A project plan is currently being developed that will allow for the creation of a state-of-the-art, not-for-profit facility that will be able to treat hundreds of patients annually. Headway needs to raise a total of €2m to build, landscape and furnish a location that will treat and support hundreds of survivors and their families each year.”
“As we work towards this vision for our Headway Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre, we both want and need to include the Cork community on our journey,” continued Liz. “The expert care provided by Headway is internationally recognised as being amongst the best in the world, but our current Cork facilities are in urgent need of modernisation. We have committed to an investment of €2 million but we need the help of the Cork Community.”
“I am delighted to support Headway’s fundraising campaign to develop a much needed brain injury rehabilitation centre in Cork and I would encourage the people of Cork to get behind the fundraising campaign,” urged Lord Mayor, Councillor Mick Finn. “I can announce that I will provide some funding from the 2018 Lord Mayor’s Christmas Concert to set the ball rolling and I’d encourage the people of Cork and businesses community in Cork to support Headway’s expansion plans.” continued Lord Mayor, Councillor Mick Finn.
100% of all money raised through the fundraising campaign will be ringfenced for the development of the Cork centre which will provide support and assistance to individuals and families in crisis. Each year the centre helps over 350 families affected by brain injury. The existing service is already stretched to the limit. An extra 100 families need our help currently. And the demand is still growing. We urgently need this centre.
