Leeds sister of hit and run victim to skydive for brain injury charity

Hayley suffered a brain injury, a shattered pelvis multiple broken bones and will always need care after she was hit by the car 15-years ago.

She was in a coma for three months and spent two years in hospitals and rehabilitation centres where she had to learn to talk and eat again.

Brain injury charity Headway provided vital care and support to help bring some normality back into Hayley’s life.

Hayley, now aged 34, lives in an adapted bungalow with brother Sam, 31, and will need care rest of her life.

Now her younger sister Abi, 29, of Gildersome, Leeds, and a friend are to take part in a fundraising 10,000 ft skydive in Lancaster on April 5 to raise cash for Headway.

Abi, who works as a self-employed tattooist, said Hayley was a first year fine art student at Manchester University when she was the victim of a hit and run on Oxford Road Manchester in the early hours of January 21 2005.

Abi said: "It is still incredibly heartbreaking and difficult."

She added: "The injuries Hayley sustained has changed hers and my family’s lives forever. She was just like me or you and at the flick of a switch, just like many others; everything was taken away from her.

"She will never be able to work or do a lot of the normal things we all take for granted.

"Now, her health and mind is deteriorating rapidly, due to the trauma she has endured she will age much faster than someone without these disabilities.

"Please help me raise awareness of the importance of charities like Headway, that are there to support us when we least expect the worst to happen."

Abi said: "Hayley had a lot of support over the years from the charity and so I would like to give something back."

Abi has launched gofundme appeal charity skydive for victims of head injury and is hoping to raise £1,000 for the Headway charity.