Glen’s Story

Glen has always loved cycling, pushing himself to go further and faster. It became a core part of his daily routine – a way to unwind, stay fit and challenge himself. But on what began as a bright, sunny day in April 2021, everything changed.

Just a mile from home, Glen was involved in a serious cycling accident. Though he has no memory of the incident, he later learned he had been found unconscious at the roadside after hitting his head. He had suffered a traumatic brain injury and was placed into a medically induced coma.

“After 15 days, I woke up in hospital with no idea why I was there. I couldn’t remember my age, the date – nothing made sense. My neuropsychologist said, ‘You’re in a brain trauma unit – take that in. It could have been much worse, but you’re here, and that’s what matters.’ It was true – I had to find a way to use this experience positively.”

The full gravity of his condition was beginning to sink in. At the time of the incident, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance had been called to his aid, with a doctor and critical care paramedic providing treatment at the scene. The helicopter had landed at a safe location nearby, allowing the team to reach him quickly. Recognising the severity of his brain injuries, they took immediate action to stabilise him before transporting him to The Royal London Hospital for further critical care.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

When Alice Kershberg, Specialist Nurse for Brain Injury at the time and now Patient and Family Liaison Lead at EHAAT, told him about his Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), used to measure the level of consciousness after brain injury, he realised “just how close he’d come to not making it”. 

“I was rated at just four or five at the scene. A score of three is the lowest possible. Hearing that put everything into perspective – I hadn’t just been in a bad accident, I’d been fighting for my life without even knowing it.”

Upon being discharged after seven weeks in hospital, much of which remains a blur, his early days at home felt just as disorienting. He couldn’t work or drive, whilst sensory overload made watching TV or listening to music unbearable. He was also struggling with fatigue, which made the long road to recovery feel even more overwhelming. 

Despite his struggles, Glen was determined to move forward. Returning to work, he found himself drawn to conversations with colleagues who had also been affected by brain injury. That’s when he had the idea to start a support group with Reach, a Barclays employee resource group (ERG). 

“I started talking to a few people, and before I knew it, more and more joined. It was clear there was a need for it.”

The group provides a space for people to connect, share experiences and support each other.

“As amazing as my loved ones are, there’s nothing quite like speaking to people who have lived similar experiences,” Glen says. “That’s what this group is about – reminding people they’re not alone.”

Getting Back on the Bike

Of all the challenges Glen faced, one of the biggest was deciding whether he would ever cycle again. Initially, the answer was no, but over time, he started to feel conflicted. Cycling had been such a big part of his life, so was he ready to give it up?

“A few months after leaving the hospital, I put my bike on an indoor trainer in the back garden. But as soon as I got on, I just cried my eyes out. I couldn’t see myself cycling again. I put the bike back in the shed, and it wasn’t until 14 months later that I decided to get it repaired. I took it back to the shop I’d bought it from. I felt it was important that it went back to its home, and after it was serviced, I placed it in the hallway. Every time I used the front door or went upstairs, I had to walk past it. As we got closer to summer, I kept seeing cyclists everywhere, but it filled me with fear – something I couldn’t quite shake.”

Eventually, the day came. Glen and his wife decided to head out and put their bikes into the car before driving to a quiet country road. He clipped in, took a deep breath and started pedalling.

“There was so much emotion in that moment – plenty of fear and anxiety, but also pride. It wasn’t about proving anything to anyone else. It was about proving to myself that I could make that choice on my own terms.”

Since then, Glen has remained connected with EHAAT and raised thousands of pounds through his fundraising efforts. Within a year of his accident, he completed a 100km ride on a training bike in the gym, followed by a 100-mile cycling event in 2023. This year, he’s planning a team fundraising ride, cycling from Barclays HQ in London to North Weald airbase and back, again at least 100km! “Glen is teaming up with his colleagues Kirsten, Matt and Ryland, and their employer has pledged to match the funds raised, up to £1,000 each. You can learn more about the team fundraiser by clicking here. 

Glen was invited to tour our North Weald airbase for a behind-the-scenes look at EHAAT’s operations. During this visit with Charlotte Evans, Senior Fundraising Coordinator, he was reintroduced to Alice Kershberg, who had supported him in the hospital. 

He has remained actively involved with the charity, not just through fundraising but also by supporting head injury research at EHAAT. Most recently, he returned to North Weald to meet with Laurie Phillipson, Centre for Excellence Clinical Academic Fellow at EHAAT,  as part of his ongoing contribution to Head Trauma Research – his second time assisting with studies related to our pre-hospital care work. 

“I’ve asked for Glen’s help in shaping a research project looking at portable devices for assessing head injury. These devices could be used at the scene of an accident, or on the way to hospital and have the potential to assist our clinical crews in identifying serious injury inside the skull. This information might help guide our care and decision-making around the most appropriate hospital to take the patient to. As someone who has received care from EHAAT in the past, his help is invaluable in ensuring that patient experiences and insight guide any research we undertake. Glen will help us to shape how the project is designed to be of greatest benefit to patients, ensure the instructions provided by the Clinical Team to patients and family members are clear, helpful, and supportive and identify potential issues or concerns from a patient’s perspective.“

“To go from lying in a coma at the side of the road to standing in front of the team that saved me, having just cycled 100 miles to raise money for them – it was overwhelming. I just want to keep saying thank you to them! I know that if I can share my experience and help even one person feel less alone, or give them hope that recovery is possible, it’s worth it.”