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.
When a Gift Becomes a Statement
When someone says, “I want a bike helmet this year,” they’re really saying something deeper. They’re saying:
- I value my brain.
- I want to be here for the people who love me.
- And I’m ready to lead by example.
A helmet becomes more than protection—it becomes a symbol of identity, strength, and smart choices. And with the upcoming “I am BrainSTRONG” movement, it becomes a badge of belonging to something bigger than ourselves.
The Movement That Helps You WANT to Wear It
Buying a helmet is easy. Wearing one, consistently, is the real challenge.
That’s why “I am BrainSTRONG” doesn’t rely on fear, rules, or lectures. Instead, it builds motivation through identity. Anyone who joins—adult or child—records a short pledge declaring that they’ll wear their helmet because they are BrainSTRONG.
It’s about empowerment, not enforcement.
Adults… Yes, You.
Let’s call it out plainly: adults have a helmet problem. Kids gear up because they’re told to. Adults… not so much. Some hop on their bikes bare-headed, even while insisting their children wear helmets.
That’s textbook hypocrisy.
Kids notice. They’re not fooled by “do as I say, not as I do.”
But imagine this holiday season: a parent opens a helmet and says loudly and proudly, “This year, I’m leading by example. I am BrainSTRONG.” That message—spoken or shown—lands harder than any lecture ever could.
Kids faces with names can’t be shown online
Now here’s where things get even more important.
Even if someone who’s under-18 wants to record a BrainSTRONG pledge, we cannot legally show their picture online if it includes their name. And if their city or other personal identifiers are included? Even more off-limits.
It’s not just a preference—it’s the law.
Kids deserve privacy. They deserve protection. And we will respect that fully.
So How Do We Encourage Kids Without Showing Them? With Adults.
We can’t show identifiable information about children, so we’re taking a powerful—and unexpected—approach:
We’re going to highlight the adults.
Adults will record their own short pledge videos, identifying:
- the school their kids attend
- that they, as parents, will lead by example
- and that they’ll wear their own helmets because they are BrainSTRONG too
This flips the script.
Instead of adults demanding safety from kids, adults show accountability to their kids.
Instead of “Do as I say,” it becomes:
“Watch me. I’ll go first.”
Tracking School Participation (Without Ever Identifying a Child)
Here’s where it gets exciting.
Because adults can choose to indicate which school their children attend, we can:
✔ Track how many families from each school have adults who pledged
✔ Create friendly comparisons between schools
✔ Celebrate the communities leading the way
✔ Build momentum that spreads from adults to kids organically
No names. No faces. No identifying information about minors—ever.
Just adults stepping up, loudly and visibly, to create a culture of safety.
And trust me: when a child’s school shows a huge number of parents who pledged, you better believe that child will feel proud, connected, and motivated to join in (privately and safely).
A Gift That Sparks Change
So yes—ask for a bike helmet. Give a bike helmet. Wrap one, donate one, encourage someone else to get one.
A helmet may look small under the holiday lights, but the impact is enormous.
Because it’s not just plastic and foam.
Because it doesn’t just protect a head.
Because it isn’t just a gift.
It’s the ignition point of a cultural shift.
It’s the physical symbol of a movement built on empowerment, identity, and example-setting.
It’s the moment kids see adults stepping up.
It’s the starting line of a school-by-school wave of smarter, safer choices.
It’s the beginning of turning “must wear a helmet” into I want to wear one.
And all of it begins with a simple, powerful declaration:
I am BrainSTRONG
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