Car collision victim has '100 happy days’ to raise money for staff that saved her life

Harriet Barnsley and her best friend Rebecca Mcmanus were involved in a car collision in Birmingham where Harriet sustained multiple injuries and Rebecca sadly passed away at the scene. Four years later, Harriet has decided to fundraise for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

The two were waiting at a bus stop in Birmingham when two cars were racing at 100mph crashed and hit the bus stop they were waiting at. Due to this traumatic experience and the loss of her best friend, Harriet wants to raise money for the hospital and staff that saved her life.

After the collision, Harriet was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham where she was in a coma for a month and went through over 60 hours of surgery. As well as being treated for a brain injury, Harriet received surgery on fractures in her left arm, right wrist, her entire left leg, collar bone, sacrum, bones in her neck and her right hip. Due to the extent of her injuries, she was unable to move her left arm and left foot.

Harriet’s fundraising challenge is called ‘100 days happy’. The challenge is about trying to be happy and do something that makes you happy for 100 days in a row. 71% of people who have tried this challenge and failed but Harriet is determined to complete it and raise money for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity at the same time.

Harriet said: “I chose this challenge because I agree with the premise; most people are too busy to enjoy just ‘being’ in the moment. I am sharing a photo each day for 100 days in a row, to remind people to appreciate those little moments in every day life.”

Sophie Carroll, Fundraising Officer for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, said: “A huge thank you to Harriet for taking part in this fundraising challenge. It is something that we’ve never seen before at the Charity but we wish Harriet luck in her challenge and are so thankful that she has chosen to fundraise for us at the same time.

“The money Harriet raises will go towards ‘added extras’ for patients, staff and families on the wards at the hospital so they can save more lives like Harriet’s.”

If you’re inspired by Harriet’s story, you can donate to her JustGiving page by clicking here.

If you want to do some fundraising like Harriet, you can go to our website to see the events we have coming up, or you can create your own fundraising challenge just like Harriet has. To donate or to find out more information, please click here.