FAABI - the Friends of Attend ABI

So you don’t get to my age without becoming a little discerning. For example, I quite like myself in red, pink or purple, definitely not gold or diamante, despite coming from Essex!…..

…..and so my first step was to try and find out a bit more about the charities I am fundraising for. First I made my big adorable eyes at David… men are succours for that I have discovered…. and got him to take me in to meet fAABI clients. It was quite exciting travelling into London in the car. The Landrover has heated seats, so I snuggled down and had a sleep.

Me in an ensemble I chose in Liberty

I am not sure what I thought ABI was…. I discovered a programme for people who have a brain injury because of something that has happened to them in life….usually a car crash, motorbike accident, being knocked over, or sometimes being attacked. Also there are some people who have had a stroke. I was a bit surprised that most of the client group were men between the age of 25 and 45… but then I wasn’t, as an experienced woman, I have learnt to realise that men often do dafter things than us ladies….

I was surprised to hear how their lives had changed: it might be they are forgetful, or they have a left side weakness, sometimes they struggle to manage their emotions, and others have withdrawn into a world of their own. No two people have the same set of issues. As they petted me, and cuddled me, I realised how lonely and isolated some of them are. fAABI helps to build confidence through social activities. At the moment they are running a weekly film club, an arts class, and are about to start an exercise class. These all happen in the evenings. They also arrange trips out and have recently been to Madam Tussauds, and the Tate Modern.

I must admit, I was a bit upset when one of the clients had an epileptic fit. Epilepsy is a common side effect of a Brain Injury. It made my chest tighten as the clients all helped. One immediately took off his jacket… his only jacket and used it to protect the clients head….another knelt beside him and made reassuring noises. (obviously the staff did lots too) but it was how the clients supported each other that touched me. In the discussions afterwards, one of the clients explained how it was the first time they had seen a fit, but they had recently developed epilepsy. They were upset, and one of the psychology students, who give up their time freely, spent a lot of time with him.

So a big tick to that one Pam. What a great idea to help raise money for these guys… a little money goes a long way. When I am left home alone… I watch the TV….its a load of rubbish that comes on really… but I learn stuff about others lives… most of these people have to live on about £60 per week… they just cant afford to travel, to buy a beer and a slice of pizza, to go to the gym…. and the lack of all these things only serve to reinforce the change, isolation and undermine what shreds of confidence remain…

So come on guys… sponsor me for fAABI, sponsor me for all those people whose lived have changed in a split second.