A charity which supports seriously injured people from the earliest stages of their recovery is rolling out its services in new regions following its national launch last month.
Day One Trauma Support offers financial, emotional and legal support to patients and their families, and was originally based at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Its support will now also be offered in the Major Trauma Centre at Aintree University Hospital, with rollout into more of the country’s 27 Major Trauma Centres also planned.
The charity is launching a fundraising drive during July to help raise vital funds for the expansion of its services, with over 100 people committing to each cover 75 miles to raise money – the distance marking the journey between Leeds and Aintree.
Day One’s support ranges from emergency funding for accommodation for families of patients being treated far from home, longer-term funding for mobility equipment, and legal advice with personal injury claims.
The charity helps arrange counselling, welfare benefits and peer support volunteers, who offer a sounding board to patients still coming to terms with their injuries.
Day One has already supported more than 1,000 patients across Yorkshire since its local inception in 2014. Recently granted independent charitable status, Day One can now work beyond Yorkshire.
Among those taking part are 40 medical professionals including surgeons, physiotherapists and nurses, from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Aintree Major Trauma Centre, who will cover the distance as two competing relay teams on 31st July along the canal between Leeds and Liverpool.
Also participating is former Day One patient, Gary Brennan, who in 2010 made a remarkable recovery from a motorbike accident in which paramedics initially declared him dead at the scene.
In spite of his long-term injuries, Gary has committed to cover the 75 miles by Segway for the benefit of others like him.
“Before Day One, patients had to figure things out on their own. We weren’t aware of any benefits we may have been entitled to,” says Gary.
“I’ll do everything I can to make sure others going through what I went through have better support and advice as they recover.
“I’m hoping to cover the 75 Miles on a Segway, which isn’t as easy as it sounds – especially not with my spinal osteoporosis arthritis!”
Additionally, more than 20 lawyers and associates, including from Leigh Day and Irwin Mitchell, will join forces to raise as much money as possible for the injured patients they work with as members of Day One’s legal panel.
Lucy Nickson, CEO of Day One Trauma Support, says: “We are so grateful to everyone who has taken up the 75 Miles in July challenge to help us provide more trauma support.
“This is a chance for us all to stand together with those recovering from injuries that test their physical limits every day, and push our bodies a little harder to help raise vital funds on their behalf.
“We believe a supported recovery should not come down to luck or post code. With the help of this fundraiser we’re taking a step closer to making that a reality.”
Professor Peter Giannoudis, trauma surgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Day One founder, says: “The 75 miles from Leeds to Aintree is more than distance; it’s about the journey of collaboration, expansion and hope as these two Major Trauma Centres lead the way in mapping out the future care provision for patients recovering from serious traumatic injuries.”
To participate in #75Miles register at https://dayonetrauma.org/get-involved/75miles, or to donate to the cause, visit https://dayonetraumasupport.enthuse.com/profile.
