Grapevine: Hembery joins Burns Foundation

The Foundation is now focusing on the creation of a Brain Centre with the Brain and Spine Foundation, as it works to improve support for people with neurological injuries and conditions in the UK.

A statement from the Foundation said: "Every year in the UK, over a million people suffer some form of head injury or illness, with over half under the age of 18. Despite head injury and illness being the biggest killer of males until their mid-20s, only four per cent of England and Wales' 760 acute hospitals have specialist Neuro units.

"The Richard Burns Foundation is committed to spreading awareness of the prevalence of neurological injury and disorder and to assist in fund-raising to help close this gap between need and scarce provision."

Hembery said he was honoured to take on the Foundation role.

"Richard was the first world champion I worked with and he set the bar in terms of being a highly motivated and competitive athlete, while remaining a very grounded, decent person and I was proud to call him a friend," he said. "Taking on the role of Trustee for the Foundation is a privilege."