Raising money for Ryde rehab

Bensville local Ms Brianna Shaw has begun a hike of the Great North Walk to raise money for the Royal Rehabilitation Centre in Ryde.

Ms Shaw said she decided to tackle the 250km trek from Sydney to Newcastle, starting on Saturday, October 15, after her father, of Empire Bay, sustained a traumatic brain injury.

Mr Steve Shaw collapsed from his bicycle on December 11 last year as a result of the injury.

Ms Shaw said her father was moved to the Royal Rehabilitation Centre in January where, thanks to the efforts of Dr Clayton King and his team, he was able to regain his independence.

Ms Shaw said that before her father's injury she had not heard of the rehabilitation centre and had never considered what happened to patients once they left hospital.

"Due to this lack of awareness, I believe the Rehabilitation Centre Service is greatly undervalued, hence my reason for this walk," Ms Shaw said.

"Watching my dad start again from scratch has been the most incredible, heart-breaking and tough journey."

Ms Shaw said she cannot thank those at the Rehabilitation Centre enough for the time and effort they put into helping her father.

"The doctors and staff at the Rehabilitation Centre have given him life again," Ms Shaw said.

As well as undertaking the walk, Ms Shaw has organised a trivia night with all funds raised going to the Rehabilitation Centre.

The trivia night will be held on Friday, November 11, at Empire Bay School Hall and will begin at 7pm.

Letter, 29 Sep 2011 Lorene Shaw, Empire Bay Email, 5 Oct 2011 Brianna Shaw, Bensville