A woman who suffered a head injury marked the third anniversary of the life-changing event by taking a dip in the freezing North Sea every day last month.
Clare Jones suffered a traumatic brain injury from concussion in a freak accident on a tree swing which has left a devastating impact on her life.
Before the accident, Clare had a busy working life but due to her injuries and a set back in July she is currently unable to work and her day to day life has been turned upside down.
And now she has decided to give something back by raising money for the Samaritans who helped her through the darkest days of her continuous recovery.
The 38-year-old from Alnwick, Northumberland, said: "Every day I can’t plan anything because I don't know how I’m going to be from one day to the next because of my symptoms.
"I have permanent head pain which is managed by medication but it can get worse with too much brain activity, which brings then brings on nausea, dizziness and I can end up being sick. I then have to rest for a few days to recover.
"I’m lucky compared to a lot of people, I appreciate that but it has completely changed everything for me.
"I was very sociable, I worked a lot of hours and always lived for the moment. Having this now puts restrictions on what I can do."
After her accident, Clare was told she would recover in a few weeks but as weeks began to turn into months she soon realised that things wouldn’t be the same.
From losing her independence to being forced to spend days in bed, Clare began to struggle to accept what had happened and started to experience suicidal thoughts.
So she decided to reach out Samaritans for support, who helped her see that there was light at the end of the tunnel.
Now Clare has gained the confidence to join Alnwick and Amble District Open Water Swimmers, who encouraged her to set up her challenge.
Dressing in a woolly hat, gloves, and 2mm swimsuit, Clare has bravely dipped in the freezing temperatures of the North Sea every day in February.
Although this is a challenge in itself for many people, this will have a greater impact on Clare due to her injury.
She added: "I’m now fighting for what happened and not letting it determine who I am. Three years on, I now have to come to terms with what happened.
"It’s great to see that more people are starting to coming forward in the sports world to speak out about the impact playing rugby and football can have long term on the brain such as leading to dementia or Parkinson’s disease.
"I want to spread awareness about the impact that concussion has. Concussion could just be a small knock on the head which could lead you to recover but it can also change your life."
To donate to Clare’s fundraising page follow this link.
