Member of Kanata 5 tragedy launching BrainSTRONG charity to raise awareness of brain injuries
A local man is on a mission to raise awareness about the challenges faced by those who suffer from Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).
Robert Wein was one of the "Kanata Five", a group of five cyclists who were struck by a driver on March Road in 2009. The crash left him with a severe brain injury and changed his life forever.
Despite his challenges, Wein has not let his injury define him. He has launched a new charity, BrainSTRONG, to help others who are struggling with the effects of ABI. The charity aims to bring awareness to the invisible nature of brain injuries and the need for support from the community and the health-care system.
"BrainSTRONG is a way to tell the world that if you happen to have a brain injury, they may not be aware of it. It's invisible, so no one can see it," says Wein.
Pathways to Independence, a local organization that provides support to those with ABI, agrees with Wein's message. Christie Swann, the COO of Pathways to Independence, says that people often don't understand the impact of brain injury on a person's life.
"Often, for most people, you're living a quote-unquote 'normal life', and then something happens tragically, and your life is never the same. People around you often don't understand the impact that it has. By increasing our funding and awareness, we're just getting the word out there and that can help in every way," says Swann.
In June, Wein hopes to hold another Brain Injury Awareness Walk, which he has organized since his recovery. He wants to spread the message of understanding and support for those who suffer from brain injuries.
"I'm hoping to tell the world that if someone makes a mistake, don't get mad. Just say why. Ask why," says Wein.
BrainSTRONG will be officially launched this Friday with a trivia night event in Richmond. The launch is expected to bring together members of the community to support Wein's mission and raise awareness about brain injury.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.