Seeing her dad lying in hospital in the weeks following a devastating motorbike collision, Lilac Rowland could never have imagined that, less than a year later, he would be walking her down the aisle.
But thanks to his incredible determination and hard work – along with the support of our dedicated physiotherapy team at Harcombe House – her dad, Greg, stood proudly by her side on her wedding day in September 2024.
Credit: Lillian’s Lens Photography
Greg, a wholetime firefighter with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, was on his way to work in 2023 when a major collision left him with 22 fractures, including serious injuries to his femur and pelvis. Just months away from retirement, he was instead forced to bring it forward.
“As firefighters, we’re always told to talk to people when attending incidents, to keep them awake, and I remember the fire officer – who of course I knew – talking to me so clearly. I remember every word he said,” he recalls.
Rushed to the hospital, Greg underwent emergency surgery for his most serious injuries. Weeks later, he returned home, moving with the aid of crutches.
Credit: Lillian’s Lens Photography
Reflecting on that terrifying time, Lilac says: “Dad was in a lot of pain. It affected him in loads of ways… his hands, for example, have no grip because both of his thumbs broke. But they’ve not been able to operate on those until his leg’s fixed, because he wouldn’t be able to use his crutches.”
Greg got in touch with us once he was home and was invited on our Outpatients Programme, as he lives close enough to Harcombe House to attend the regular sessions. Ever since, he’s worked on his strength and overall recovery.
“I run my own business as a wheel wright and a coach builder, we’ve previously worked with the royal family and the Queen’s carriages, and with my firefighting role as well, it meant I was incredibly active, always doing something,” he says.
“Losing that independence… I’m not sure I ever really came to terms with everything at the time. But the charity helped me process it all.
“I was lucky that I didn’t injure my head or my back… but I was even more lucky that I was a firefighter and had access to Fire Fighters Charity’s support. It was, and is, incredible. The physio team at Harcombe pretty much taught me to walk again.”
Greg underwent further surgery on his femur in January 2025.
“The mindset that the charity has given me, as well as the physio exercises, has helped me so much,” he says.
Greg’s wife, Nina, has seen the improvement in her husband first-hand and says: “The facilities the charity has, and the personal support from the physios, have been incredible – we can’t fault it. Without the charity he would almost have been left to his own devices in terms of his recovery.”
For Lilac, seeing her father’s determination and progress meant they both achieved a dream – the moment he walked her down the aisle.
“When Dad had his accident and I saw him, the first thing I said to him was, ‘will you still be able to walk me down the aisle?’ That was a huge goal for him, and the team at Harcombe House really worked with him to make that happen,” she recalls.
“He did it and that wouldn’t have happened without their support.”
Credit: Lillian’s Lens Photography
Lilac married her now-husband, Sam, in Cullompton, Devon, on 26 September 2024, in front of their loved ones – a day which she describes as being “more special than she could have ever dreamed of”.
As a thank you for the support we’ve offered her dad, Lilac is taking on the Bristol Half Marathon in May in aid of us, along with a friend.
“We are raising money for the charity as a thank you for the life-changing impact they have made on my family,” says Lilac.
To support Lilac’s fundraiser, click the button below:
If you feel you’d benefit from our health and wellbeing support, you can call our Support Line on 0800 389 8820, make an enquiry online or visit the ‘Access Support’ tab in My Fire Fighters Charity.