I found out about the Concussion Legacy Foundation in the winter of 2014 after one of my concussions. I realized that this Foundation is going to make major advancements in preventing and curing concussions and I decided to use my story and experience to help them out. By sharing the hardships I experienced during my recoveries, people realized that concussions are not a myth and are something more serious than a little bump to the head. By raising awareness and thanks to having so many generous friends and family members, I raised $10,000 to support the Foundation's community education programs and national iniatives. As part of their community education efforts, Chris joined me to present to the entire Deerfield student body everything an athlete needs to know to protect themself and their teammates from concussions and the effects after a concussion.

When Chris came to speak at Deerfield, I learned a lot about the changes the Foundation has already made worldwide. Their Safer Soccer campaign changed the age at which youth soccer players could start learning how to head the ball, something that gave many young kids concussions. After Chris’s visit I saw an immediate change in my community, which inspired me to continue to support the Foundation’s efforts to lead to a safer future.

This year, I am participating in the Concussion Legacy Foundation's My Legacy campaign. My legacy will be an effective treatment for post-concussion syndrome (PCS) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). My goal is to raise $15,000 to support the Foundation’s outreach efforts for the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank. This brain bank is the world’s leading research program on the long-term effects of concussions and repetitive brain trauma. The BU CTE Program team collects damaged brains from around the world to study the physiologic effects concussions have had on athletes.

Derek Boogaard, the former NHL hockey player and Legacy Donor who passed away in 2011, was known for being an enforcer and a fighter. Unfortunately, due to getting punched and hit in the head hundreds of times over his career, Boogaard developed CTE. In my eyes, sports should be appreciated for players' skills, not their ability to knock an opponent unconscious.

The brain bank is a critical first step in understanding the underlying cause of PCS and CTE symptoms. To date, 300 Legacy Donors have shown the terrible burdens of these disorders, but have also led to discoveries of new effective treatments. It is sad to read these tragic stories, but also it is a wakeup call that dramatic changes need to take place.

I hope you will consider supporting this critical research program that provides hope to so many former athletes and members of the military that better days are ahead. Click here to donate.