Weird Wonderful Brain Following Encephalitis

In August 2017, my life changed in an instant when I became ill to a viral brain infection called meningo-encephalitis which subsequently resulted in an acquired brain injury.

Four years on, the recovery is still ongoing and life keeps throwing additional challenges due to the residual effects that this viral brain inflammation left on its way. Sport used to be one of my dearest passion and although I can't exercise or compete to the same levels that I used to, I still get a lot of benefit from exercising. In the last few years, a group of friends has been supporting me in achieving new sporting challenges...adventure racing being one of them.

Although I thought I had retired my adventure race bid for a while after last year's mega adventure race challenge, an opportunity recently came up to join a team in 2022. The passion and the adventure race fever was too great for me not to join. It will be a slightly new adventure race challenge for me, a new team captain and a few new adventure race buddies which I'm getting very excited about already. On March 12th 2022, we will be part taking to the Wander Women Adventure Race held in Russell, NZ.

We will be wearing proudly the Encephalitis Society singlets once again, but we will be fundraising for a local charity this time around that does amazing work in supporting people living with a brain injury. Having developed a close relationship with this charitable organisation over the past year or so, a contribution to Brain Injury Association Northland would mean the world to me. I know the donations will go on to provide support, advocacy and education in order to promote a quality life that maximises the potential, choice and independence for people affected by brain injury and their family/Whanau.

Thanking you in advance for your support. Updates on our training can be viewed on my Weird Wonderful Brain Facebook page, follow us to see what we are getting up to.