A former businessman living with severe head injuries after a car collision is calling on residents to join in a mad hair day to support head injury survivors.

John Stanger, 58, from Lakelands Close in Macclesfield, was the victim of a head-on car collision in 2003. The crash put him in intensive care for 10 days and in an induced coma and the father-of-two had to overcome paralysis on the left side of his body and learn to walk and eat again.

The former MD for a Danish textile company, who travelled the world with his job, was also left with diminished mental processing skills, and epilepsy.

Now he is calling on businesses, groups, schools and colleges to go mad with their hair on Friday, May 13, for the Action for Brain Injury Awareness Week, organised by charity Headway. John, a volunteer for the charity Head Injury People (HIP) in Cheshire, is joining members in asking everyone to wear a wacky wig or silly hairstyle for a day, to support head injury survivors, their carers, friends and family.

Second from left: Clare Emerton, charity fundraiser and coordinator for HIP in Cheshire, with fundraisers from Birchall Blackburn Law at last years Mad Hair Day.

Read more:

Read more:

HIP aims to improve the quality of life for people after a serious brain injury. John said: “We’re all looking forward to the day, it’s great fun. We hope as many people as possible will get involved and spread the message about brain injury and how common it is. You can’t underestimate the difference donations make to HIP members. Facing the rest of your life with a head injury is frightening and lonely. The symptoms are complicated and often change with time. But HIP is like one big family. We’re all in the same boat and understand the feelings and emotions. The group really makes a difference.”

John and his family are still learning to cope with his neurological symptoms but it has not stopped him from windsurfing and taking up karate and photography. Clare Emerton, HIP fundraiser and coordinator, said: “A brain injury can show no physical signs but behind the mask of ‘normality’ a person, and their family and friends, can struggle to cope with devastating neurological symptoms. We need to get people talking about head injuries and a wacky hairstyle is one way to do it!” This year’s Mad Hair Day is supported by solicitors, Birchall Blackburn Law. To register your team and get your pack see hip cheshire. org.uk. For support call 07900 158 166 or see hipincheshire.org.uk.