After Matters fun day raises over £4,800 for young brain injury survivors

Date published: 08 September 2022

A family fun day by brain injury survivors support group After Matters has raised a staggering £4,886 as it proved to be a huge success on 20 August.

Supported by local Rochdale businesses and organisations such as Action Together Rochdale, Littleborough RUFC, RRG Group, SPC Sheet Metal Ltd and other Greater Manchester businesses, After Matters was able to put on a fantastic family fun day at Littleborough RUFC that brought people together from the local community, including young brain injury survivors, who were able to meet and connect with each other.

The event also supported quite a few local small businesses who were willing to be part of the day selling their local, handmade craft produce. 

In addition to raising awareness of brain injury at the event, After Matters also managed to raise a staggering grand total of £4,886.38, which will go towards funding treatment and therapies for young survivors to help to enable them to achieve their best possible recovery.  

After Matters co-founder Maxine Hayden said: “We are very proud and totally overwhelmed with the support from our local community and local businesses who really pulled together and wanted to help to make a difference. 

“With support of sponsorship, donations of raffle and tombola prizes and volunteering services on the day from small business and local people, including all the entertainers who contributed, the people of Rochdale and Whitworth have shown what a community can do to make a positive difference to a very much needed and worthwhile cause. 

“From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone and we hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as we did."

Chantelle Porter, mum of young brain injury survivor Ky Porter who also performed his own music about brain injury awareness, said: "Thank you for putting on this event and for asking my son Ky to perform at the event. 

“I know Ky had a great time being able to perform his songs and meeting you all.  It's been really nice meeting everyone and it brings comfort knowing there are other people out there that know what we go through as a family on a daily basis. 

“After Matters should all be truly proud of yourself for building such a rewarding charitable organisation that will definitely help other families."

Emma Roberts, mum of young brain injury survivor Dan, added: "What a brilliant day we all had. I think Ky has found his new number one fan in Dan. Both Dan's dad and I were in tears listening to Ky singing his songs; what an inspirational young man. It was lovely to meet the other young survivors too and their families. I really hope it will become an annual event because I think the turnout was great."

Traumatic brain injury survivor, John, said: "It was a different way to spend my 38th birthday, but since my TBI my whole experience of life has changed. It was comforting to see I’m not the only person out there that’s living a life with a TBI, and it was nice to see so many people there to help support and most of all raise awareness about such a hidden, untalked about illness.

"The team did a fantastic job. I came home realising I’m not the only one…. And seeing how far some of the other survivors had come in accepting, and creating a different kind of life for themselves made me feel positive."

After Matters is a local home-grown organisation established by two mums to provide inclusion, support and signpost sources of help for young brain injury survivors (aged 16-25) and their families. They provide help and support to those who have been impacted by brain injury, or if they are caring for a loved one with a brain injury.

After Matters help to bridge that gap and can link people so they can share their issue and be signposted to expert help and support. For more information or to get in touch, please visit the After Matters website.