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Second Annual Walk For Thought - October 1, 2011

Please join us on Saturday, October 1 at the Wichita Waterfront for our 2nd annual Walk For Thought, which celebrates the accomplishments of individuals affected with brain injuries while raising awareness and funds for the Brain Injury Association of Kansas.  All funds raised stay in our state to provide resources, support and information to thousands of survivors and their families.  Please click here to learn more about this FREE event, how to get an official event t-shirt, or how to be an event sponsor.

Meet our 2011 Honoree - Chase Kear

 

Chase Kear was looking forward to starting his final year at Hutchinson Community College.  He would be finishing his degree in fire science and going out to find his first fire fighting job.  He was also excited about pole vaulting for the college track team.  He had worked out hard all summer, and he knew he would PR (personal record) several times this season.  But all that changed on Thursday, October 2nd, at 4:15 PM.  Chase went up for one last vault of the day.  Something went wrong, and Chase knew instantly.  He over-shot the mats on the far end of the pit and landed full force from a 12’-14’ height onto the right front side of his head.  Everyone knew immediately it was bad, and that Chase was in serious trouble.  He was unconscious and flown to St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, KS.  There his parents, Paul and Paula, learned Chase had not regained consciousness during the flight, had cracked his skull from ear to ear, and his brain was swelling rapidly.

On Friday, Oct. 3rd, doctors took Chase to surgery to remove a softball size piece of his skull to relieve his swelling brain.  His parents were told he had a better chance of dying than surviving. That was the beginning of an 18 day ordeal in the SICU where much of the time it was touch for Chase’s survival.  Chase surprised everyone; he did survive.  By October 21st Chase was able to move to a rehab hospital where he began the long painful road to recovery.  Chase worked hard and surprised everyone.  Just a month and a half after his near fatal accident he walked into his own home to stay.  Now three years later Chase has a full time job and is almost completely recovered.  If you met him today, you would never know anything happened to him.  Chase and his family want to help others receive support, information, resources, and have a place to turn to in their time on need.  They also want to bear witness that there is life after a brain injury.

Thank you to the following sponsors. We recognize and appreciate your commitment to brain injury awareness.

-Brennan Gott Law

-Pottroff Law Office

-Toshiba Business Solutions 

-Wesley Rehabilitation Hospital

In-Kind Sponsors:

-The Waterfront

-Specs

-Fox and Hound of Wichita

-Chris Drum of Moonlight DJ & Karaoke

 

 

First Annual Walk for Thought in Wichita!

          

                

   

 

             
        
THANK YOU to the participants, sponsors and donors who supported our first Walk for Thought in Wichita!!
With your support, we raised over $7,600 to benefit the Brain Injury Association of Kansas & Greater KC! Most importantly, you gave a voice and a face to brain injury awareness. Thank you!  We will be in Wichita in 2011!