Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Challenge- 64 Miles

A virtual challenge or virtual race is an event that happens whenever you want it to, wherever you decide to have it.

With a marathon type-race, for example- you'd register for the event that takes place on a certain day, at a certain time, at a set location.  There are normally hundreds, if not thousands of people present all at the same place.

Often times, those that participate are athletes that have been training for the event for some time.

Because a virtual challenge isn't in any one particular place or time, there is no requirement to be any type of an athlete, and you don't need to be in any one particular place at any specific time.

This allows people from all walks of life, and all fitness levels to participate- AND their only competition is that which they set for themselves.  This also allows races to be longer- sometimes hundreds of miles- or even thousands of miles- and can be broken up into tiny pieces of activity over months and months if need be.

Some people might run ten miles a day toward a goal.  Others might walk a few blocks toward the same goal- there is no one to judge the effort or capabilities of each participant.  You are only accountable to yourself.

Keep track of your miles (or the conversion of your chosen activity to miles) and when you've reached your challenge goal- send a screenshot or a photo of your tracker to us- and we will promptly engrave and ship out your medal and certificate! 

Yes, you get a medal and a certificate for simply completing the challenge!  You earned it!  Way to go!

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Jeff is a 43 year old father of two young sons.  He was a physical fitness enthusiast before his head-on car accident in October of 2021.  He loved to play basketball, wrestle with his boys, and worked to provide for his family.

Through no fault of his own, a careless driver going the opposite direction in traffic, rear-ended a car going the same way.  The car was hit so hard, it spun around and hit Jeff who was also in motion.  

By the grace of God, no one died in that accident- though the airbags deployed, and Jeff was taken to the emergency room in an ambulance- where he was met by his wife.  The ER was understaffed due to Covid-19, and after diagnosing Jeff with "severe concussive syndrome", he was released the same day to the care of his wife- with the vague directions that he should follow up with his primary doctor soon, and he should feel better within 4 weeks.

He did not feel better. In fact, his symptoms got worse, more complex.  Jeff tried to push himself to "act normal", and resume his daily life as it was- but was unable to.  From crushing migraines to nausea, brain fog, aphasia, and more- Jeff's new normal, almost a year later- is still nowhere near "normal".

His doctors seemed to keep pushing the recovery goal post farther and farhter out.  What was first 4 weeks to heal became 4 months, then 6 months, then a year... It felt hopeless for Jeff and his family.

Call it karma, luck, or whatever you'd like to- Jeff accidentally stumbled on The Brain Injury Association of Illinois.  Not only did they give his wife, Christina, a list of brain injury specialists, but they, with permission, began to contact these doctors for Jeff- helping to push him through impossibly long waiting lists to get him the help he needed urgently.

The caring and compassion expressed by the Brain Injury Association toward Jeff and his wife guided them to the right places, and finally got Jeff on course to tackle the issues in front of him, get him the right kind of help, and revivie his hope.

Traumatic Brain Injuries are an invisible affliction.  Very often, the person affected looks "fine".  Fine, as defined by standing and walking, talking, going to the bathroom unassisted, and carrying on in public with minimal outward signs of trauma.  They aren't physically paralized, so often- their families and the public view them as exaggerating or not trying hard enough to recover.

In Jeff's case, he isn't able to drive a car- not because someone told him he couldn't, but looking at moving objects makes him dizzy, he has very little concentration, bright light such as the sun cause him excrutiating and nauseating pain in his head, and he often falls asleep at inappropriate times. To someone that doesn't know Jeff, you might find him to be aloof, uncaring, or socially removed- but the truth is, he's struggling with depression over the immidiate and instant mannor in which his life completely flipped upside down.  He has limbs, all functional, but can't work because he has a hard time focusing and communicating his thoughts clearly now.  He has a very short attention span, reacts implusively, and short term memory is all but non-existent.

But the most difficult part of this story is that Jeff is NOT unique.  This long list of issues is typical for someone suffering from a TBI- and it can be much worse- all while remaining invisible to those observing from outside the victim's close circle.

Groups like the Brain Injury Association help soothe the victims' fears, arm them with information, skilled doctors, support groups, and understanding to help them fight this battle and in many cases, win!  Not everyone recovers completely from a simple concussion, and many concussions are misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed moderate to severe TBIs.  Skilled doctors in the field will tell you that the brain is so complex and still such a mystery- there is no defacto way to know the severity of a trauma until the patient begins to experience recovery.  The timely attention from a competent doctor in the field of TBI is ablsolutely integral to maximum recovery for the patient- and without groups like the Brain Injury Association, people like Jeff would be sitting at home, waiting in a seemingly endless circle as that goal post for recovery gets pushed out farther and farther into infinity.  With resources like them, there is real hope for people like Jeff.

64,000 people a year die from brain injuries.  This challenge is 64 miles- one for every thousand people that are taken by a TBI- and the profits from this challenge are officially pledged to The Brain Injury Association of Illinois- in Jeff's honor- as a thank you from those of us that have either had a TBI or are a family member or loved one of a person with a TBI.

To all the victims- we see you.  We understand.  There is hope.

Keep fighting.  You are true, silent warriors- and together, let us say thank you to our allies that provide a little light in a dark battle.  Here's to our victory, together!

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Earn your medal and certificate by performing any physical activity, then using our activity conversion chart to convert the activity to "miles".  Once you've reached 64 miles, shoot us a message that you've completed the task.  We'll verify your information, and then send out your prizes!!!  Your medal will be engraved with your name.

Don't forget to share your progress photos in our community group and on the forum here! We're here to cheer each other on, and motivate us past our own individual goals. so sharing victories- no matter how small they feel to you might help someone else get over a hurdle that seems really big to them.

Use hashtags:  #championchallenges and #Iamwhatachampionlookslike when posting on social media, and don't forget to TAG US!!  We'll re-share your success!

Medals will be a three-dimensional viking helmet with a dent or a hole in the top to symbolize a head injury endured by a fearless warrior.  A green neck lanyard is attached symbolizing the green ribbon worn for brain injury awareness and traumatic brain injury awareness. Medals begin production within a day after enrollment closes however, the design process has already begun and we will post design and production updates on the group page associated with this event, our social media, and more.

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Disclaimer: Champion Challenges does not instruct any participant on when, where, how, what type, or how much exercise or physical activity to perform.  Participating in any virtual event does not imply expectation of any such physical  or dangerous activity.  We are not responsible for any injuries that occur from physical activity of any type or any accidents that may occur as a result of the activity.  The only expectation of activity is that set forth by the enrollee and enrollee shall be the only party responsible for monitoring activity, safety, and physical capability to perform physical activity.

The conversion chart included is a guideline only and is meant for the purpose of converting various activities into measurable length in miles for the purpose of our program.  We make no representation that actual miles or distance should be traveled, or that the conversions should be considered exact.

Participant is solely responsible for their own activities and choices and specifically agrees to hold harmless Champion Challenges, LLC, www.thechampionchallenges.com, any members, participants, affiliates, employees, owners, or interested parties.  Champion Challenges, LLC and all parties related to are not responsible for any representations made by contributors, participants, affiliates or outside sources.  Participants use this service and site at their own sole risk.  By proceeding forward, you agree to all terms included herein.

Champion Challenges is not in partnership or collaboration with the Brain Injury Association of Illinois, we have simply made a public pledge to donate all profits from this challenge to their cause.  We will publish a donation receipt on the event page once the challenge enrollment has closed.