Successful business leader and House of Lords peer Baroness Martha Lane Fox has become a Patron for charity Day One Trauma Support to help more people with life-changing injuries similar to her own.

Baroness Lane Fox suffered multiple catastrophic injuries, including breaking 28 bones and suffering a stroke, after a car crash while on holiday in Morrocco in May 2004. Baroness Lane Fox paid to be privately airlifted back to the UK for further treatment, which she says ‘saved her life’. She then spent two years in hospital and has since had 47 operations for complex neurological and orthopaedic trauma which has left her walking with two sticks.

Baroness Lane Fox says the money she made from co-founding lastminute.com in the late 1990’s gave her access to the best medical care that most people wouldn’t be able to afford. It paid for her flight back to the UK and ongoing private care, alongside the NHS, that changed her life as she was initially told she may never walk again. Despite ongoing surgery and setbacks over the past 20 years, she has continued to lead the business world and became the youngest female crossbench peer in the House of Lords in 2013, acquiring the title Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho.

The inequity of support available for people who suffer such life-changing injuries has led her to become Patron of Day One Trauma Support. We provide the emotional, practical and financial support people need after suffering catastrophic injuries as a result of incidents such as car crashes, falls from height, stabbings and sporting accidents. We provide bedside support in partnership with seven NHS Trusts that run Major Trauma Centres, national support via our phoneline and website, and a network of peer support volunteers who have all experienced similar injuries to Baroness Lane Fox.

Alongside a group of close family and friends, Baroness Lane Fox will start her biggest challenge to date, the National Three Peaks, on Saturday 20 April 2024 to raise awareness and £350,000 for Day One and three other charities close to her heart. This huge physical challenge will see her climb the three highest peaks in the UK, starting with Snowdon on 20 April, followed by Scafell Pike on 5 May, before concluding with Ben Nevis on 7 September. Baroness Lane Fox is also supporting Horatio’s Garden, AbilityNet and iamtheCODE Foundation.

To support Baroness Lane Fox visit givewheel.com/fundraising/2189/3-peaks-challenge

Baroness Martha Lane Fox said: “I’m thrilled to start working with this wonderful and important charity. I had a catastrophic car crash in 2004 and my life changed forever. It was only due to unimaginable support from family, friends and many amazing professionals that I am able to walk, manage every day, and live a full life. Everyone deserves this chance and there is much to be done to help all trauma survivors.

“If it wasn’t for my own resources and an incredible network of support, I would not have survived the first 24 hours, let alone the next few months. At first, I spent just under two years in hospital. I was in three different units and had a massive number of surgeries. However, it did not end there and I have been in and out of hospitals constantly over the past 20 years.

“I want to make sure this strange kind of anniversary year is channelled into something positive. Despite living every day with the very significant consequences of what happened to me, I am lucky. Most people who go through what I did are either dead or in a wheelchair. I had money from my lastminute.com adventure and an incredible amount of support from friends and family who were there with me every step of the way.

“I had advocates in my family and amongst my friends for every moment of my 47 operations, but many do not and it is overwhelming. That’s why I’m passionate about Day One Trauma Support as they are building an amazing support network of peers who work in hospitals alongside the medical teams. But the need is enormous and we need funds to reach everyone across the UK.”

Lucy Nickson, CEO for Day One Trauma Support, said: “Martha’s incredible business experience and personal insight into major trauma make her an ideal Patron for Day One, and we’re excited to work together to improve and expand the charity. Martha is already helping us reach new people through her inspirational leadership and we’re so grateful for her taking on this incredible challenge that will raise vital funds so we can help more people rebuild their life after a catastrophic injury.”