16200/2GAZETTE & HERALD: B&Q staff in Chippenham are aiming to raise £10,000 for charity Headway after two people close to their hearts suffered head injuries following serious accidents.

Cyclist Valerie Curtis suffered horrific injuries when she was knocked down on the busy A420 junction at Lanhill last month.

Mrs Curtis, 57, of The Ridings, Kington St Michael, has now had several operations to mend broken bones and is expected to remain at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol for some time.

Her husband, Richard, a delivery driver for B&Q, said his employers had been extremely supportive, and he still hadn't returned to work.

Headway, the brain injury association, aims to promote understanding of all aspects of brain injury and to provide information, support and services to people with a brain injury, their family and carers.

Mr Curtis said it took his wife ten days to wake up after surgery on her left leg. "It was a bit concerning but she's come round now," he said.

"The doctors have got her on lots of drugs to ease the pain, which are also making her sleep a lot.

"This morning she was awake and she recognised me and was able to talk. The next big thing will be getting some food into her, but we're taking it day by day."

Talking about his employers, Mr Curtis said: "They've been brilliant and if they manage to raise some money for Headway then that's excellent."

Des McCarthy, general manager at the Chippenham store, said he was passionate about fundraising for Headway after hearing about the plight of a colleague.

The son of Joy Ward, who works in B&Q headquarters in Portsmouth, was knocked over by a speeding motorist as he crossed a pelican crossing four years ago, when he was just 18.

Twenty-three year-old Andy now has traumatic brain injury, resulting in major epilepsy, speech and movement impairment and little short-term memory.

Mrs Ward was presented with the B&Q Hero Award earlier this month for services to the company and she has been given a year off work fully paid to follow a dream.

Her target is to raise £1 million to build a social rehabilitation centre in her local town, for people with head injuries.

And now B&Q stores nationally are rallying round to help boost the funds.

Mr McCarthy, who opened the Chippenham store in November, said: "The biggest challenge we have got is trying to get our customers to understand what Headway is about.

"It's something very close to our hearts. I've never felt as passionate about getting behind something as this."

B&Q in Chippenham is launching seven months of fundraising for the charity on the May bank holiday weekend.

There will be car washing in the car park, on Bath Road, all three days and bag packing in-store.

Buckets will be available from today for shoppers to make donations and cold drinks will also be on sale. All of the money raised will go to Headway.

Events such as raffles, a 24-hour sponsored bike race, sponge throwing at the management team and fancy dress days are on the drawing board for the rest of the year.

Mr McCarthy said: "We rarely get to do anything that is close to us and we want to raise as much as possible for Joy and her son and for Headway."