A FOOTBALL fan who was hit by a bus and left with no short-term memory is raising money for the charity that helps him manage his condition.

Barry McGowan, of Sedgefield, County Durham, was in a coma for seven days after he was badly injured on his way to a Newcastle FC match in the city, on December 21, 1997.

The 35-year-old fractured his pelvis and skull, and suffered a severe brain injury that left him unable to walk, talk, eat or retain any new memories.

However, thanks to brain injury charity, Momentum, and alot of hard work, he is now able to remember important information and even hold down a work placement.

The former UPS worker’s mother, Pauline McCourt, said: “I have about 70 per cent of him back now, it’s amazing what he has achieved.

“He still has a lot of problems. He can’t get on a bus because he forgets to get off and he couldn’t put a pan on a stove for obvious reasons.

“But if you could have seen what he was like before you would be amazed. We thought we had lost him altogether.”

Mr McGowan spent 11 months in hospital after the accident, six months of which were in a wheelchair and brace.

During his stay he learnt basic functions and was eventually allowed home where he made slow progress with a system of notes written on walls and constant reminders.

However, in 2005 he started working with Momentum in Newcastle and, according to Ms McCourt, has come on in leaps and bounds.

The charity has seven UK centres and uses innovative techniques that allow patients to train themselves to use parts of the brain that hold long-term memories.

Mr McGowan is now able to hold down a supervised work placement at a builders’ merchants and can even remember his mother’s mobile telephone number.

She said: “Before the accident he used to go down the town every week and buy me a bunch of flowers and now, if I’m out shopping, he asks me for some money because he wants me to buy me some flowers. It’s not about the flowers, it’s because he remembers, but there have been a lot of years in between.”

The family is raising money for the charity during a fundraising event at 7.30pm on Saturday, May 5, in Sedgefield Racecourse, County Durham. Entry is £5 and includes music, entertainment and a raffle.

The family is also auctioning a signed Sunderland AFC shirt, with hospitality for a match of the winner’s choice, signed Newcastle FC merchandise and a tour of Liverpool's Anfield stadium.

For details, tickets, or to place a bid for the prizes that were donated by the clubs, call 07766-763390.