September 8, 2010

A television show featuring a high-profile New Zealand equestrian's horse riding accident has added weight to a campaign for head injury awareness in the country.

Elizabeth Charleston Elizabeth Charleston is pictured with Yodelling Romeo after winning the Champion Senior Rider at the 2007 Royal Easter Show. She became a leading proponent for riding safety following an accident in which she suffered a head injury.

Former international model Elizabeth Charleston appeared on TV One's 'Attitude' show on Sunday, September 5, to discuss the impact her head injury has had on her life and to increase understanding of the condition.

Charleston is also the founder of THINK, The Head Injury Network for Kiwis. In recent months she has thrown herself behind a campaign to raise awareness of head injuries in New Zealand.

Charleston said she was thrilled with the amount of positive feedback she has received since the show aired, believing it will go a long way towards demystifying an illness that many sufferers are embarrassed to talk about.

"I am humbled by the number of messages people have sent me since the screening of the Attitude TV show that focused on my head injury," she said. "People have been in touch to thank me for speaking up about the 'Invisible Injury' that so many New Zealanders are living with.

"Many have shared their own stories on trying to live with a head injury or support a family member or friend with one. It's almost an epidemic in this country and sadly there is still very little that can be done about the condition," Charleston said.

She intends to continue campaigning for head injury awareness and hopes her efforts will help people realise the serious impact a head injury can have on a person's life.

"The majority of people with head injuries are not able to work full-time again as they suffer from short-term memory, fatigue and problems with their balance," Charleston said. "It can be incredibly frustrating as they simply can't do the things that they used to do.

"People also need to understand that it can happen to anybody. This year, we are focusing heavily on individuals playing sport as that is where a huge chunk of head injuries are sustained. Horse riders and cyclists must wear a helmet to protect their heads. Those involved in sports such as soccer and rugby are also susceptible. The key message is to always be careful and never become complacent," she said.

As well as heading up THINK! and campaigning through various media, Elizabeth was also involved in Head Injury Awareness and Appeal Week in June.

Saddlery stores Stirrups Equestrian and Saddlery Warehouse offered their support throughout the week and offered significant discounts on new riding helmets to encourage horse riders to wear protection when participating in their sport.

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Attitude TV show
THINK!
The Head Injury Society of New Zealand

On Auckland Day, January 2005, the horse that former international model, actor and presenter, Elizabeth Charleston was riding at a show reared up and flipped on its side, crushing the right side of her body and knocking her unconscious. Elizabeth was discharged from hospital the same day as the accident but symptoms such as ringing in her ears, as well as problems with speech, memory, hearing and sight persisted. Two years later, doctors admitted it was unlikely she would ever recover from her head injury.

According to Elizabeth, no-one in the medical profession was able to give any useful guidance on further symptoms or warning signs, advice on coping with a head injury, or of any support groups that might be able to help. Driven by a desire to help other people in a similar situation and to raise awareness of head injuries in NZ, Elizabeth established THINK! in March 2010 with the assistance of Waikato Head Injury Society branch manager Joan Limmer.

Established in 1987, the Head Injury Society Waikato is a charitable organisation providing advocacy, support, education and information to people who are head injured, their families and carers in the Waikato.