BY DARRELL BELLAART, DAILY NEWS DECEMBER 8, 2011
Cross-Canada runner and brain injury crusader David McGuire brought his message of head injury safety to Nanaimo on Wednesday. The spokesman for a national brain injury association made a stop at the Nanaimo Brain Injury Society as part of his Run to Remember tour, two days before his eight-month running journey ends in Victoria.
McGuire, who suffered a sudden stroke six years ago, launched his campaign April 1 in Newfoundland.
He has run an average 40 kilometres a day since then, going through a pair of sneakers every two weeks. Throughout his journey he has talked about the need to prevent head injuries.
Doctors don't know why his brain started to bleed that day in 2006, when he was 33.
Despite lasting memory problems, McGuire has a sense of accomplishment from running so far for the cause.
"My goal was to just shout and scream as loud as I can to protect your head," McGuire said.
Helmet use while riding bicycles and playing active sports is a theme of his tour.
"I want helmets to be the same as seatbelts. If you go on a bike, use a helmet."
McGuire's visit was an inspiration for Brittney Hay, who survived a car crash on Hammond Bay Road in the spring of 2006 that left her brain injured.
"It's just great, nobody really knows about brain injury and it's good that people are starting to bring it to the public's awareness," Hay said.
"Nobody wears helmets riding bikes and (police) need to push that."
McGuire lives in New Westmin-ster and after running across the Canadian Prairies and the Rocky Mountains he's glad to be on the West Coast.
"Why the rest of Canada hasn't figured out that B.C. is the place to be, I don't know," he said, flashing a warm, broad smile.
Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan signed a Run to Remember proclamation.
McGuire ends his journey Friday afternoon at Mile Zero at Victoria's Beacon Hill Park.
DBellaart@nanaimodailynews.com 250-7294235
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