My StoryRobert Wein

• Hold your hand up if you’ve had a concussion

• I would like for everybody who knows who Sidney Crosby is to hold their hand up

• Does everybody know that a concussion is an acquired brain injury?

• I’m not the only person here that has had an acquired brain injury

• Everybody that held their hand up having had a concussion has suffered an acquired brain injury

I enjoyed working for the government

I had an ultra-cool job, working at the agency that “runs” secret operations around the world

I was in the group that designed programs for high-security purchases in Canada

I was a member of a fitness bootcamp to help me get into shape

My girlfriend, Cathy, and I competed in Triathlons (swim, bike, run)

I loved to ride my bike. The faster the better.

Triathlon

500 metre swim90 km bike10 km run

July 19, 2009

My girlfriend, 3 friends, and I were biking on March Road.

We were hit from behind by a minivan.

This is what remained of our bikes

The man who hit us didn't stop.

The windshield was broken byHilary McNamee’s head.At the trial, he swore that he didn’tthink he hit anything. What do you think?

The story was big news, in the Citizen, and on TV

The trial lasted 6 days

He was found guilty

The judge said that she’d given him the most time that she was able to, two years less a day

I have physiotherapy twice a week.

I had to learn how to walk again, stand without assistance and do daily activities that most people don't even think about.

Speech therapy to help me remember to take my time, speak slower and focus on what I am saying.

I also have attendants who assist me outside the house, drive me to day-programs, and to my appointments.

After the accident, I “medically retired”

I have a new “job”, and that is to share the message of awareness to everybody

It was easy to just give up, and not do anything, but that’s not right – it just changes how I do things

I’m not able to ride a typical bicycle, because of my balance

I’ve a new ride, that lets me ride sitting down

It has the same equipment that lets me click into my pedals

It’s fast

This comic says a lot The concept of an

acquired brain injury isforeign to many people

I’m actually fortunate,because I use a walker, so people can see rightaway that I’m disabled.

I don’t run like I used to. For long distances, I’m pushed in a wheel-chair.

Although it may seem like a good thing, it was my incentive to achieve more.

I went to The Nepean Sailing Club for a day of sailing, and it required the use of a crane to get me into the boat.

Challenging, yes, but once I was in then it was as if I wasn’t disabled.

Some of you might think that helmets are geeky, or whatever, but they are the biggest (only?) reason that nobody died

Tell everyone (especially your parents, but others also) where you’re going, tell them the time that you’re leaving

Always remember to contact someone to “check in” when you arrive.

The Share The Road initiative is determined to help raise awareness of cyclists by cars, and save lives. We (the five of us) contributed our time and faces, through a video, to pass along the message

In 2009, I initiated an awareness walk, that I called CABI, which stands for Conquer Acquired Brain Injury

The first year happened around the world, including Spain, Australia, the US, and Ottawa

The message was spread, but it raised $936

In 2010, the second walk wasn’t as global, but it raised $10,000

The third annual walk will be in June

Andrew Hayden Park

I’m inviting all of you to join

I have information cards for you

The registration will be $30, and you’ll get a t-shirt

Safety matters, because you might not see the car that will hit you

Always persevere, do your best, because there might be a day where that’s all you’ve got

As long as you live, you will have challenges. The question isn't if they will come, but how you will face them when they do

Thank You