Dudley Garner (40) sank into a deep and desperate depression after sustaining a defused axonal brain injury in 2009. Dudley was forced to retire from his job early, lost many friends and became an oddity to himself overnight. As intense rehabilitation and a harrowing compensation claim ensued, Dudley began to drink excessive amounts of alcohol.
But four years on, he found it was running that helped pull him out of this dark place.
Now, Dudley has been nominated for a national award for his own resilience and commitment to helping others through the power of running.
He will join just two other finalists shortlisted for the Alex Richardson Achiever of the Year Award, sponsored by Slater & Gordon. The accolade will be presented at a ceremony organised by Headway – the brain injury association on 9 December at The Landmark London.
On finding out he had been named a finalist, Dudley said: “I feel so overwhelmed. I don’t have much confidence in myself so to be recognised like this is a strange feeling.
“I’ve seen these types of awards before and always been amazed at the people who have been nominated so to be in the same mix is surreal. I’m buzzing!”
Dudley’s journey with brain injury began in March 2009 when he was out celebrating with his girlfriend (now wife) as they had decided to move in together.
Recalling the life-changing event, Dudley said: “We’d been out for a few drinks and were walking out of a bar, ready to catch a taxi and go home. All of a sudden a car came round the corner and smashed into us both from behind. The kid driving had lost control and mounted the pavement.”
Dudley took the brunt of the impact as he collided with the car’s bonnet. He was flipped in the air and landed on his head, causing an injury to his eye socket, a fracture to his spine and most concerningly, a fracture to his skull.
The brain injury left Dudley battling with side effects such as memory loss, language difficulties, mood swings and mental fatigue.
“The accident was the worst thing that ever happened to me,” said Dudley. “Everything went to crap after that. I loved my job, playing football and running a record label as a hobby in my spare time, but I couldn’t do these things anymore. I was waiting, living in hope that I would someday return to who I used to be. It wasn’t until a few years later that it dawned on me that I’d never be able to do the things I enjoyed again.
“I nosedived into alcohol, made bad decisions and drifted from family and friends who found it difficult to understand the effects of my injury. Things got so bad that I tried to commit suicide.”
But in 2013, Dudley’s wife signed him up for the Edinburgh 10K, running in a charity spot for Headway – the brain injury association. Seeking purpose, Dudley reluctantly starting training.
He said: “My wife signed me up to run for Headway in the hopes that I’d learn more about brain injury along the way. I didn’t care about letting myself down but because I was running for charity, and not just any charity but a brain injury charity, I felt a sense of responsibility to get the job done.
“I hated training. I actually threw my trainers in the bin as soon as I’d finished the run and felt glad that I’d never have to do it again!
“But in the hours that followed I had so many congratulations messages pouring in. It put a huge smile on my face and I felt all tingly and happy. I didn’t realise until after but running gave me such an adrenaline rush and a great sense of achievement. It was everything I’d been missing since my brain injury.”
Following the successful effects of running on his own life, Dudley began teaching people the ‘Couch to 5K’ course at a local park. Word soon spread and since starting these groups in 2016, Dudley has welcomed more than 400 new runners.
“I wanted other people who felt crap about themselves and life to have a safe space to explore the power of running in the hopes it might make them feel better about things too,” he said.
“One of my doctors said to me after my brain injury that I needed to mourn the death of the old me in order to start enjoying the new me. After a brain injury, there’s a lot of things you can’t do anymore so it’s about finding new things which you can do, like running.
“Running saved my life and helped to reinvent the new me.”
More recently, Dudley took on the role of Wellbeing Running Coach at Headway Norfolk and Waveney, earning him his nomination for Alex Richardson Achiever of the Year.
Dudley was nominated for the award by his wife and carer, Catriona Garner. She said: “Dudley has no idea of the magnitude of his achievements and often forgets the huge number of people he has helped. His passion for empowering people to use exercise to help themselves, bring new friendships together and unite people in need of solace, is magical to see.
“This award would hopefully bookmark his achievements so far and give him the confidence that he is every bit the valued and purposeful person he wishes to be.”
Dudley will find out whether he will win the Alex Richardson Achiever of the Year Award, sponsored by Slater & Gordon, on Friday 9 December at The Landmark London.
Awards for Carer and Volunteer of the Year will also be presented, alongside the Stephen McAleese Outstanding Contribution to Headway Award.
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