Journal

The holidays are here — a time to celebrate, reflect, and look forward with hope. For me, and for everyone involved with BrainSTRONG, it’s about more than decorations, gifts, and festive cheer. It’s about celebrating strength, resilience, and determination — even when it’s invisible.

Most people living with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) face challenges that aren’t obvious. Their victories and perseverance often go unseen. That’s why BrainSTRONG exists: to shine a light on the invisible, raise awareness, and foster understanding. It’s about turning empathy into action and showing the world that resilience matters.

Every holiday season, we look for that one gift—something meaningful, something memorable, something that shows we truly care. Some people wrap up gadgets, others go the sentimental route, and some simply hand out gift cards and hope for the best. But this year, the most impactful gift might be something surprisingly simple:

A bike helmet.

Not exactly the “big reveal” under the tree, right? But stay with me—because this gift isn’t just an item. It’s the spark that kicks off a movement. It’s the catalyst for changing how people of all ages think about their own safety. And soon, thanks to the launch of “I am BrainSTRONG,” it will be so much more than just a helmet.

There’s one thing I’ve learned on my journey, it’s that people don’t like being told what to do (in this case wear a helmet). For some reason, the very idea sparks resistance. Kids roll their eyes, adults shrug it off, and too often the response is: “I’ll be fine.”

I honestly don’t know why, I really don’t, because if I wasn’t wearing mine, I’d have died – absolutely no doubt.

Think about it. If you’re driving a car, you buckle up without question. If you’re skiing, strapping on a helmet has become second nature. If you play hockey, you wouldn’t step onto the ice without one. Yet, when it comes to biking—something we do on busy city streets, winding trails, or even in our own neighborhoods—there’s this strange resistance.

The other day I was chatting with a neighbour about kids and biking, and what she told me blew my mind. She said that they aren’t allowed to ride without a helmet on, but why her kids won’t wear a bike helmet has nothing to do with anything logical—it’s simply peer pressure. They tell her that if they show up with a helmet strapped on, there’s a real risk they’ll be teased. They might get called a wimp, a baby, or something worse. And that means, for too many kids, the choice isn’t between safety and danger—it’s between safety and fitting in.

That’s a frightening thought. As someone who’s lived through the consequences of being run over by a minivan, I know what’s really at stake when a child gets on a bike without protection. Helmets save lives. They reduce the severity of injuries. In some cases, they’re the difference between standing up after a fall and never being the same again. But kids don’t think that way—not when peer pressure is weighing heavier than any helmet ever could.

On January 15, 2026 a press conference will be held that will mark the beginning of something powerful — changing the way people think about helmet safety. Special guests from the world of professional hockey, including some familiar NHL faces, will be joining us to help launch I Am BrainSTRONG — a program that’s all about flipping the script on helmet use. Just like the NHL did back in 1979 when they made helmets mandatory, this initiative aims to drive a culture shift. But here’s the catch: unlike hockey, there are no referees on city streets to make sure kids (or adults) wear a helmet when biking. That decision? It’s entirely up to us.

That’s why I Am BrainSTRONG will exist.

Acquired brain injuries (ABIs) are often misunderstood, largely due to the invisible nature of many symptoms. This lack of visibility leads to numerous myths and misconceptions, which can negatively impact those affected. In this post, we’ll debunk common myths about ABIs, shedding light on the reality of living with these often misunderstood injuries.