Amherst News

Darrell Cole of the Amherst Daily News meets with David to talk about his run across Canada.

Running to remember - Local - News - Cumberland News Now

B.C. man running a marathon a day for brain injury

AMHERST – David McGuire’s life changed abruptly seven years ago when he suffered a brain injury that left him with short term memory loss and a desire to do something to help those like him.

“I suffered a brain injury in 2005 and knew nothing about brain injuries until then. I was an office worker that was really good at the XBox,” McGuire said. “I was delved into this world of living with a brain injury.”

The 38-year-old B.C. man is in the early stages of a run across Canada to raise awareness and funds for brain injury research and support. He ran through Amherst on Sunday and left for Prince Edward Island early Monday.

McGuire realized he was lucky wanted to do something for those not as fortunate. He said it was challenging living with his parents in that there was nothing to do. There were no resources for those with brain injuries.

He said simple things like working at a coffee shop were not possible because he would either forget what people ordered or forget to ask them to pay.

While not a runner before, he took up running taking part in both half marathons and full marathons until he decided to run across Canada to raise awareness about brain injury.

“I did a bucket list at 35 and decided some of the things I wanted to do. This is one of those things,” said McGuire. “I went through two to three years of feeling really sorry for myself but I’m married and want to have kids. I can sit and feel sorry for myself all I want but I’m still going to have a brain injury. What I can do is get out there and do stuff.”

Along with running for awareness, he is also raising funds for Brain Trust Canada. Donors can support him by buying a kilometre or more at www.runtoremember.com, texting brain to 45678 or by mailing a cheque or money order to Brain Trust Canada, 11-368 Industrial Ave., Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 7E8.