EMCSmithFalls.ca - A Run To Remember

A Run to Remember - after man told he might never walk again

Posted Aug 4, 2011BY EMC NEWS

Smith Falls & Kemptville

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David McGuire is in the midst of A Run to Remember. It all started in St. John's, Newfoundland with an official launch on March 31, and is expected to complete in Victoria, B.C. at the end of October - seven months later. The name of the event is significant because memory problems are one of the major outcomes of brain injury, as it is for David.

EMC News - David McGuire was told he may never walk again . . . . so he is running instead.

David sustained brain injury in 2005, and although he was advised by medical staff that he may never walk again, he started running . . . and completed his first marathon in 2006, a year after his brain injury! David's story is a powerful one, and yet he is very humble - he often says "I am just a guy with brain injury - but I can run, and I have a story to tell."

David's life changed dramatically after brain injury, and he wants to bring awareness to this cause. How? He is going for a 'little run' - across Canada! A marathon a day, in fact.

The event is called A Run to Remember. It all started in St. John's, Newfoundland with an official launch March 31, and is expected to complete in Victoria, B.C. at the end of October - seven months later. It passed through this part of Eastern Ontario last month. The name of the event is significant because memory problems are one of the major outcomes of brain injury, as it is for David.

Sponsors include Foot Solutions franchises, Rogers Communications, Honda Canada, Harmony Honda Kelowna, Canadian Ski Patrol System, supporting companies GPS City, Splash Design, Free Spirit Photography, Post Net Print & Media Group Kelowna, Pro Sign Kelowna and Vega Foods, NGO partners Think First, Preventable and Smart Risk, and collaborators Tim Fallis (Black Rock Marketing), Craig Hurst and Jeannette Holman-Price.

David is working with BrainTrust Canada, a non-profit organization involved in national injury prevention strategies. The net proceeds of the run will create a legacy fund to promote brain injury prevention and develop new support strategies for people living with brain injury in Canada.

Funds can be contributed through the www.runtoremember.com website where there are several options such as buying a km for $20, or by texting "Brain" to 45678 to contribute $5 on your phone bill, for any carrier.

David's goal is to inspire people, especially youth, as they are most prone to high risk behavior and as a result have the highest incidence of acquired brain injury.

Brain injury has been labeled an epidemic and is the greatest cause of death and disability under 45, surpassing cancer, heart disease, diabetes and all other causes. More than 170,000 Canadians incur brain injury each year - that's 483 people per day, or one every three minutes....more than a Boeing 747 every day!

The good news is that up to 90 per cent of traumatic injuries are preventable - prevention is the cure. Awareness is the key.

Submitted by BrainTrust Canada.