Check out David's story in the Winter 2011 issue of Headline Magazine (pg 12)
http://brainstreams.ca/sites/default/files/2011WinterHeadline_1.pdf
12.31.2011
12.11.2011
Man has little memory of cross-Canada run
Published: Dec. 11, 2011 at 5:01 AM
By JOSEPH CHRYSDALE, United Press International
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/12/11/Man-has-little-memory-of-cross-Canada-run/UPI-61791323597660/#ixzz1gfUuV3uB
Trans-Canada runner David McGuire and road manager Melissa Wild slump and relax Dec. 9, 2011, in Victoria, British Columbia, at the completion of an 8-month, 4,500-mile run across Canada to raise awareness of brain injury prevention. Braintrust Canada photo handout.
By JOSEPH CHRYSDALE, United Press International
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/12/11/Man-has-little-memory-of-cross-Canada-run/UPI-61791323597660/#ixzz1gfUuV3uB
Trans-Canada runner David McGuire and road manager Melissa Wild slump and relax Dec. 9, 2011, in Victoria, British Columbia, at the completion of an 8-month, 4,500-mile run across Canada to raise awareness of brain injury prevention. Braintrust Canada photo handout.
After 253 days on the road, brain-injured runner David McGuire has completed daily marathons totaling about 4,500 miles to cross Canada on an awareness mission.
The 38-year-old reached Victoria, British Columbia, to a hero's welcome Friday after setting off from St. John's, Newfoundland, April 1, carrying the message of brain injury prevention.
McGuire was working as a debt collector for a bank six years ago when he suffered a stroke -- or possibly several -- that caused massive bleeding inside his head. Doctors removed a portion of the left side of his skull and froze it for days to allow the swelling to subside while McGuire was put into a medical coma.
When he awoke, he had complete memory loss and was told he would never walk again. However, his mobility and long-term memory slowly returned, although he still has minimal short-term memory. He told UPI that for him, "there's no such thing as a TV rerun."
Because of the memory issue, Braintrust dubbed his project the "Run to Remember."
He and manager Melissa Wild traversed all 10 provinces, during which McGuire spoke directly to about 80,000 people about head injury prevention, specifically about the need for helmets for bicyclists and athletes.
Friday, McGuire was joined in the final leg of the run to the finish line in Victoria's Beacon Hill Park by about a dozen other brain injury survivors.
He told UPI Saturday he wasn't prepared for the crowd and celebration that greeted him at the finish.
"It was so surreal," he said. "I'm just not used to that kind of attention."
Regardless, during his eight months on the road, McGuire did at least 75 media interviews and attracted about 70,000 online and social media impressions during the daily marathons of about 25 miles, run manager Wild said.
Along the way, McGuire said he was heartened by the number of people who would approach him on the roadside to say they'd heard about him through the media. Some offered cash donations while others chose to run alongside him for company.
"After I got out of the hospital all damaged and confused, I was angry at everything and pissed off with everybody, McGuire said. "But after meeting so many people -- strangers -- across Canada who were so, so kind to me and generous, I have to say my faith in people is back."
The run was organized by the Braintrust Canada charity in Kelowna, British Columbia, whose goal is to provide education about preventing head injuries. The secondary mission was to raise money to further education programs, Communications Director Magda Kapp told UPI.
She said there had been hope donations would cover the approximate $150,000 cost of the run, but they fell short by about half. Kapp said she suspects economic conditions hurt donations, but the goals of education and awareness had been a complete success and the trickle-down effect of the run would ensure awareness would spread.
"We certainly still welcome donations for the achievement," she said.
McGuire told UPI in a summer interview the trickle-down effect of his presentations also had a trickle-up factor.
"When I talk to school kids and stress how important helmets are when they're on a bike or a skateboard, I try to hint to them their parents should be doing the same thing," he said.
While he acknowledges his brain injury wasn't the result of injury, McGuire keeps his hair cut very short to show the large, reverse C-shaped scar from his skull surgery as a visual tool in his presentations.
The run was scheduled to wrap up in October, but was delayed by several mishaps, including a bout of food poisoning, a lung infection, foot and leg injuries and bad weather, Wild said.
Meanwhile, McGuire said he wasn't sure what his future held, but restoring a routine with his wife Mandy was the top priority.
His blog and history of the run can be seen at www.runtoremember.com.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/12/11/Man-has-little-memory-of-cross-Canada-run/UPI-61791323597660/#ixzz1gfUxFldy
12.10.2011
12.09.2011
Brain injury survivor arrives in Victoria after cross-country trip
Ryan Flaherty/News staff Victoria Coun. Marianne Alto declares Dec. 9, A Run To Remember Day, in honour of Dave Maguire, left, and his cross-country run to raise brain injury awareness. Maguire, who sustained a brain injury in 2005 and was told he may never walk again, ran a marathon a day to complete his journey.
Ryan Flaherty/News staff
A group of local brain injury survivors and supporters had a hero's welcome for one of their own Friday, as fellow survivor David McGuire arrived in Victoria following a remarkable journey.
With the support of BrainTrust Canada, a non-profit organization involved in national injury prevention strategies, McGuire set out from St. John's, NL in April and ran a marathon a day unitl he reached Victoria.
His trip, dubbed A Run to Remember, has raised money to create a legacy fund to promote brain injury prevention and develop support strategies for Canadians living with brain injury.
Awaiting him Friday afternoon were members of a brain injury survivors running group organized by the Victoria Brain Injury Society, as well as a handful of VBIS volunteers and staff. The runners met McGuire downtown and ran alongside him for the last two kilometres of his trek, which wound up at Mile 0 on Dallas Road.
One of those runners is Brad Cownden, who last year completed a cross-country trip of his own. Inspired by an aunt who suffered a brain injury 10 years ago, Cownden rode his bicycle across Canada to raise awareness of the condition. He's a big proponent of the benefits that running and cycling can have for brain injury survivors.
"There's research that shows that moderate exercise that is repetitious is really healthy for injury recovery, so something like running, something like cycling is really a positive experience," Cownden said.
An event like this is important for brain injury survivors to see that there's a light at the end of the tunnel, says the society's director of resource development.
"It gives people hope," said Nicole Nelson, who also took part in McGuire's homestretch run. "David was told that he'd never again, and he's run a marathon a day. So that gives clients that we have that hope that they too can get over their hurdles and find new ways of participating in life."
VBIS began its running group this past July, and McGuire said it's fellow survivors like them that provided the inspiration for his journey.
"Everybody here, man, this is the reason why. For all these people," he said.
"It's been fantastic."
http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/135354878.html?mobile=true
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