TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
After a nasty fall off his bicycle at the age of 10, Kenneth Murnaghan has been living with the effects of brain injury. He wasn’t wearing a helmet.
But that was 37 years ago — before bicycle helmet safety laws. At that time even many professional hockey players didn’t wear helmets. Of course, this is little comfort for Murnaghan today. He often recalls the fateful day all those years ago when his life changed.
“I hit a manhole and flipped over and bounced from one corner down to the next corner,” he said. “I was 10 years old and I thought I was indestructible. I was wrong.”
After flipping over the handlebars of his bike, he suffered serious brain trauma.
He certainly got used to wearing a helmet after that. He was forced to wear a protective helmet at all times for several years following his accident that left two steel plates in his head and a hole in his skull.
“I stood out in the crowd — there was a lot of things I wasn’t able to do, like skating, playing football, any type of physical activity or sport,” he said.
“I have a disability. I’ve had to learn to get along in an able-bodied world.”
He’s certainly not alone. Every year, over 50,000 Canadians sustain brain injuries from various causes, many of which are preventable.
That’s why he believes the work of the Brain (Injury) Association of Canada (BIAC) is so important. The organization supports and advocates for survivors of brain injuries.
Murnaghan has himself been promoting awareness of the risks of brain injury by stressing the importance of wearing helmets.
“Helmets are essential,” he said. “It can happen so quick —just a bump in the road can send you over the handlebars and can change your life forever.”
Eric Creamer, one of the founding members and directors of the national association from P.E.I., said the BIAC is lobbying the federal government for national helmet legislation.
“Brain injuries are startlingly more common than you would think,” Creamer said. “And they can have a devastating effect on all aspects of a person’s life.”
The local branch of the association has been working hard to offer support to victims of brain trauma and their families. But due to a lack of funds, the organization has been going through hard times over the past number of years.
“We’ve been running on volunteers. And our volunteers start burning out,” Murnaghan said.
Which is why he and other members of the BIAC are raising awareness about this being national brain injury awareness month through their Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey fundraising event being held in Charlottetown June 7.
The Hawaiian-themed fundraiser will allow an opportunity for survivors like Murnaghan to share their stories and an evening of fun and learning.
Survivors, families and friends will be able to network with medical experts, community leaders and the public over cocktails and oysters, which contain natural brain-improving zinc.
The event is admission by donation, which will also give everyone in attendance the chance to win that grand prize — two tickets to Honolulu, Hawaii.
Leave a Reply