As a 21-year severe traumatic brain injury survivor, I have been motivated by doctors, therapists, or even a family member who questioned my physical or mental abilities post accident. As a former competitive athlete who played basketball in college, I do not need much to get my attention or my competitive juices flowing. If involved in an activity where there is a winner and a loser and someone makes a point, comment, or even a facial expression, it’s game on for me! With that being said, I wonder what is it that motivates fellow survivors? I get it, brain injury is responsible for my early retirement from playing basketball and baseball competitively, but it did not stop me from performing recreational sports that do not require running or a good amount of strength.
This past weekend, I participated in a fundraiser that is near and dear to me. It was called Bowling for Brain Injury! This fundraiser consisted of finding family, friends, and allies of brain injury survivors to donate money to those who were bowling. We had a great time! We got to show off our bowling skills, talk with survivors and allies, and enjoy pizza and soft drinks. We also raffled away several in-kind gifts received from the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Rays, and Lightning. Finally, the two raffles that motivated me most were the 50-50 pot and an evening out at the Straz Center for Performing Arts.
This was the inaugural event for Florida’s advocacy group, Brain Injury Florida. We will look to do this next year in Tampa followed by other cities in the state. This was a easy fundraiser to stand behind due to my love of bowling. I think when you love what you’re doing and who it is for, it never feels like hard work! While I was humbled by our success, I would have like to see more survivors come out to show their faces. I know we all have our individual challenges making it out, but I believe it is necessary that survivors come out in public to show yourselves to the world. I know we are all unique like snowflakes, but it means so much more when folks can see what we are about and our struggles. I will think of other ways to make the event more available to survivors in the future and I will reach out to more rehab facilities that treat brain injuries.
Oh yeah, getting back to what motivates me. While bowling in our second game, I noticed me and another bowler’s score was pretty close in the 9th frame, but I was down. So Ricky, another survivor who bowled with us, saw our scores and mentioned I needed to do something to catch up. Motivation switch turned on! This was no longer a fun and free bowling event, but it was now time to show everyone what I could do! So the first ball I rolled in the tenth frame was a strike! This next ball would determine who would win this game. I rolled another strike! The final ball was the ‘ball of explanation’, because it would let onlookers see my dominance! LOL. Striking would secure at least a 10 pin victory and a reminder to those who wish to challenge me. Once again, I can be extremely competitive and today people got to see how I am wired. I rolled another strike! Game over.
It was a great event and I promise to do more to bring survivors out in the future! Thanks to our brain injury survivors, allies, bowling teammates, and my loving spouse for their support! We are just getting started and I want to build this exceed expectations! To my fellow survivors in Florida, be on the look out for us coming to a city near you! If we come to your town, please do your best to come out and say hello! If you need a ride or something else, let me know! I’ve learned that my existence today is no longer about me, but is about everyone else, but me!
Thanks for your support! Stay strong survivors!
Check out: www.brainjuryfl.org