#25 – LoveYourBrain for Hope & Resilience

Our talk today will be about the nonprofit LoveYourBrain.   I wish everyone, and especially cyclists, knew about LoveYourBrain and its fantastic support of the traumatic brain injured…but they don’t…at least not yet.  While I had heard of LoveYourBrain through a friend of mine who was hit by a car while riding his bike in the mountains of Colorado, I didn’t really understand how important it was until now. Resilience won't make your problems go away ... but resilience will help you see past your problems, find enjoyment in life and handle the stresses of life. About LoveYourBrain: LoveYourBrain (LYB) is a non-profit that improves the quality of life of people affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI) and raises awareness about the importance of brain health. LYB's evidence-based programs and resources are designed to create community, foster resilience, and help people understand the importance of loving your brain. Guided by their family’s experience, brothers Kevin and Adam Pearce established LYB following Kevin’s severe TBI from a snowboarding accident prior to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Kevin’s remarkable resilience was documented and transformed into the award winning HBO Documentary, “The Crash Reel,” which brought to light the experience of TBIs. Why this matters Isolation, unemployment, failed relationships, and suicidal ideation is reality for the brain injured. And since brain injury is often invisible, affected people are misunderstood and often poorly served by the standard medical system. LoveYourBrain website: https://www.loveyourbrain.com/ For today's podcast, I am joined by 3 people who have had deep personal connection to brain injury as well as to LoveYourBrain.   We’re going to hear about their journeys, AND the story of LoveYourBrain, we will also find out how any of us can benefit from the resources provided by LoveYourBrain should we need it, and how we can help the LoveYourBrain team to continue doing their good works. My guests today are: Adam Pearce, who is the co-Founder and Executive Director of LoveYourBrain.  David Adler, who is a business leader and an avid cyclists and skier.  In 2013, he was hit by a car while riding his bike….leaving him with more than 20 broken bones, two collapsed lungs and a TBI.  Brett Tivers who is a high school sports coordinator and teacher now in New Zealand, but was a professional cyclist, and winner of the 2011 Tour of Battenkill in NY. In 2012, while racing in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Brett crashed at 38 mph and was knocked unconscious, resulting in a brain injury which ended his professional cycling career. Virtual Ride for Resilience info: Landing page link: https://www.loveyourbrain.com/ride-for-resilience Participant Guide link: https://my.visme.co/view/epdnp44x-loveyourbrain-ride-for-resilience-toolkit#s1 Sign up/fundraising link: https://www.classy.org/event/virtual-ride-for-resilience/e325