March is brain injury awareness month, and two patients and their therapists are getting ready to do a little “joggin’ for their noggins.”
“It’s the only one that I’ve ever heard of or found or really anything somewhat locally that brings attention to brain injury awareness,” Brittany Stewart of LewisGale said.
Steven Myers and Jacob Pillis both suffered traumatic brain injuries. Myers was in a car crash back in 2012, and Pillis had a stroke during surgery in October.
Now, they’re working with physical therapists, Stewart and Abbie Morneault at LewisGale to regain their muscle function and balance. They’ve created a unique bond that goes beyond just patient and therapist.
“I feel like every time someone walks through that door, it’s like walking into a family environment,” Morneault said.
And it’s what they’re doing outside of the clinic that’s solidifies that family feel.
“We’re just going to kind of go and do the best that we can and not really stress, running or beating a good time,” Stewart said.
“If it ends up being a walk or a jog, we’ll be fine with that,” Myers said.
The Third annual Joggin’ for your Noggin’ 5K Run/Walk is on Saturday at 9 a.m. in Radford.
“I just want to push myself, I think it’s a good idea to see how far I’ve come along, how far I can go. Even though I won’t be running much of it,” Pillis said.
Proceeds benefit the Brain Injury Services of Southwest Virginia.
This story was originally published on WDBJ7, on March 15, 2017.