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. 

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