Rhi Wheeler

We are running from Waterloo to the Elm Tree in Ringwood to raise money for our close friend Sam, who was left with a life-changing head injury after a terrible accident. He has a condition called Prolonged Disorder of Consciousness (PDoC) and is currently in a neuro-rehabilitation centre in London. The next goal is to bring Sam home to Ringwood and retrofit the family home to better suit his needs. On the 28th of May, Ben Cook and David Edmunds are starting from London Waterloo Station and running all the way to the Elm Tree pub in Ringwood over 3 days, which is 155km (98 miles). Sam means a hell of a lot to a lot of people. He’s the type of guy you can go to with any sort of problem and know you’ll get an ear that listens with compassion. The mate you call with good news to celebrate with. The mate you love to hear achieve their goals. The mate you call on a sunny day meet up with at the pub after work. One of the funniest people you’ll ever meet — the type of guy who is always happy to see you. Someone you really love, trust, and respect, and who would always help you out if you needed it. And he needs our help now. If you can donate anything, it will help. Thank you. ——— To keep up with the wider campaign and other fundraising initiatives, visit our website www.bringsamhome.com We hope that we can give Sam the best chance of recovery and a future he deserves.

In September last year, our world stopped overnight. My brother Sam suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, including a diffuse axonal injury – one of the most serious forms of brain trauma. He needed emergency brain surgery to save his life, and has faced many complications since, including hydrocephalus and multiple operations. The past few months have been both devastating and life-changing, faced with not even knowing if Sam would survive at several points. But despite everything, he is still here and still fighting. He has shown incredible strength and we couldn’t be prouder of him. More recently, Sam was diagnosed with a Prolonged Disorder of Consciousness (PDoC) and transferred from Southampton General Hospital to a specialist neuro-rehabilitation centre in London. This is the best possible place he could be, while they undergo an in-depth assessment to help stimulate awareness and determine the best path forward. Our next goal is to bring Sam home to Ringwood. But to do this safely, our family home will need significant specialist adaptations and equipment to support him living with a complex neurological injury. Every pound raised will go directly towards: • Essential home adaptations • Specialist equipment • Long-term rehabilitation support. If you’re from Ringwood, you’ll know Sam’s friendly face. He’s known for his cheeky smile, his kindness, and his willingness to help anyone. He’s full of life, loves DJing and takes pride in his work as a plumber. He adores his friends and family deeply, and would do anything for anyone. Sam is only 23 with his whole life ahead of him. While we don’t know what his future holds yet, he deserves every possible chance at recovery, surrounded by family and friends. If you are able to kindly donate, sponsor, or simply share Sam’s story, we would be incredibly grateful. Your support will help us bring Sam home, where he belongs. As we continue to understand what Sam will need long-term – from care and rehabilitation to the adaptations required to bring him home – we’ll be setting goals in stages.  Thank you so much for taking the time to read Sam’s story. People and businesses can get involved with specific events and follow along the journey on our website www.bringsamhome.com Love, The Wheelers x