Triathlete’s long-term goal to complete challenge for facial disfigurement charity
Seria Hogg set herself the challenge of completing a triathlon to raise money for Changing Faces, a small charity supporting individuals with a visible difference or disfigurement.
Seria Hogg was cycling home from work when she was hit by a disqualified driver 11 years ago. She crashed into his rear window when he cut across her, and was eventually thrown out onto the road when the driver didn’t stop after hitting her. Her husband, waiting in a restaurant for her, called when she didn’t arrive and was greeted on the phone by a paramedic.
“I had deep lacerations to my face, my cheekbone had collapsed, I had a break above the cheekbone, I lost four teeth and had damage to my tongue,” says Seria. After surgery a few days later, she was warned about her appearance, and she noticed family looking shocked when they visited her. Her 19-year-old son cried upon seeing her face. “I was horrified by what I saw – my face was twice the size, the stitches, the blood. I sobbed as I couldn’t bare to look at myself. I tried to be strong despite feeling like my life was over. It was a terrible time.”
Seria was offered no counselling by the NHS, and wasn’t given any connections to organisations or charities that could help her. A year of struggling went by, and Seria had a breakdown. Her husband suggested they go private for counselling instead.
Seria has now had three operations to reconstruct the damage to her face. “Everything I went through made me realise how precious life was. I decided I wouldn’t have any more surgery and would like to live with what I have and make the most of it. I still have no feeling in the left side of my face – but it is my normal.”
Throughout this whole ordeal, Seria continued cycling. She was determined to not allow the driver and the accident to impact her life any more or take away her love of cycling. Slowly, she built back up her confidence, and has set herself the goal of completing a triathlon, all to raise money for Changing Faces. Three years after setting the goal, she has struggled with injuries, meaning this challenge has all the more importance to her, and her commitment to the goal remains unwavering.
Entries for the 2026 Northumbrian Full and Half Distance Triathlons are open now, enter now at www.thenorthumbrian.com
