Mum takes on run to thank hospital for treating daughter’s brain injury

A mum is taking on the Great North Run to thank staff at Nottingham Children’s Hospital for treating her daughter’s brain injury after a car accident.

Maggie Skinner is taking on the half marathon next September in aid of Nottingham Hospitals Charity’s Big Appeal for Nottingham Children’s Hospital.

Maggie’s nine-year-old daughter Briony was rushed to the hospital in August after she was hit by a car while cycling to the local shop with her mum and brother. Briony suffered a head injury and a bleed on the brain after she accidentally cycled into oncoming traffic.

By complete coincidence, Briony’s dad, James, had adjusted the strap on her cycle helmet just two days earlier as it was hanging loose, and Maggie ensured Briony wore the helmet despite only travelling down the road. Maggie credits this with helping save Briony, describing the helmet as “completely obliterated” in the crash.

When my husband adjusted the chin strap two days earlier he said to Briony ‘If you were to be hit by a car that wouldn’t do anything to save you’.”

Speaking about the accident, Maggie said: “When an ambulance arrived they took Briony into the back to assess her. I wasn’t allowed in, so I just stood on the side of the road with my six-year-old son George for what seemed like an eternity. People brought us blankets and water, and the lady who owns the shop at the petrol station brought George a whole pack up of food.

“About twenty minutes later, an air ambulance arrived and landed in the field behind us. Based on her head injury, the paramedics decided to send her to Nottingham Children’s Hospital, at the QMC. They told me how it was the best hospital in the country for paediatric neurosurgery.

“I had nobody to take George because my husband had been posted to RAF Lossiemouth just that morning. I remember giving my phone over to a complete stranger to call him because I just couldn’t think straight. The police bundled me and George into one of their cars and blue lighted us to QMC.”

On arrival at the hospital, Briony was taken for a brain scan, which revealed a bleed on her brain. She was taken to the intensive care unit, and then the children’s neurology ward E40, and monitored for the next 48 hours. She also was taken for an x-ray but surprisingly had no broken bones. 

Talking about their time in hospital, Maggie explained: “Over the next five days, Briony gradually regained consciousness – at first just for a minute at a time, opening her eyes and saying a few words, but then going back to sleep. I cried when she woke up for the first time and was able to tell the doctor her name, her age and where she lived. It was at this point only that I could allow myself to believe she was going to be OK.

“The staff who cared for Briony were absolutely amazing. They were so caring and so patient. Nothing was too much trouble. Watching them working, they had so many very poorly children to care for, not just Briony, I can’t even begin to imagine how exhausting just one shift on the ward must be. But not once did I hear the nurses complain of being tired or overworked. They gave us all the time we required to answer any questions we had. They made us feel so safe and looked after. And they were so patient with Briony as she got stronger and regained her independent streak, when she did try to discharge herself a few times!

“We were discharged five days later, but the care hasn’t stopped there. We have been in constant contact with the doctors and nurses from occupational therapy, physiotherapy and neuropsychology, who have been helping us navigate a gradual return to school for Briony and what living with an acquired brain injury means. They have given us so much of their time and expertise and I know that they are there at the end of the line whenever we need them.”

Briony is now back at home and doing well, although she cannot remember the period of time before, during and after the accident, which Maggie says has made it hard for Briony to accept and understand what happened to her and why she needs to take things slowly and carefully for a while. 

Briony is a keen performer and was rehearsing for the lead role in a production of ‘Miracle on 34^th Street’ before her accident. Maggie says one of Briony’s main concerns after the accident was whether she would still be able to sing, act and remember her lines – but thankfully they have all come straight back to her.

Maggie was so grateful for the care that Briony received that she decided to take on the Great North Run to raise money for the children’s hospital and thank them for their care. 

Maggie explained: “I train with Peterborough Athletics Club and have completed many half marathons, marathons and ultra-marathons over the years, but I’ve never done a race specifically for a charity – I tend to be racing for a time or position, so this will feel very different for a lot of reasons. The Great North Run is on my bucket list as it’s such an iconic run, so this feels like the perfect opportunity for me to give back to Nottingham Hospitals Charity.”

Jules Doherty, Relationship and Events Manager at Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said: “We are so grateful to Maggie for taking on this race in aid of our Big Appeal for Nottingham Children’s Hospital. We know what a traumatic time this has been for Briony and her family, and it’s so touching that they want to give back to the hospital in gratitude for the care they have received.

“The money Maggie raises will help other children like Briony by allowing us to fund improved facilities, specialist equipment, and toys and games for children during their time in hospital. Thank you so much to the whole Skinner family for their support.”

Maggie is also keen to use Briony’s experience to highlight the importance of cycle helmets: “If this accident has shown us anything, it’s that life is so precious, and it hangs on a knife edge. A couple of seemingly small decisions made the difference for Briony, like the decision to adjust her helmet strap two days beforehand, and the decision to pop on her helmet even though we were just popping to the local shop. I want to urge everyone to check their children’s helmets fit properly, and that they wear them at all times. And not just children – set a good example by wearing one yourself it’s literally a no-brainer!”

To sponsor Maggie, please visit JustGivingMaggieSkinnerGNR2025