Missoula run brings community together for brain injury awareness

MISSOULA, MT - A rainy run at Fort Missoula brought people together to support brain injury awareness across Montana. 

The event gave survivors, organizers and community members a chance to connect while raising awareness about brain injury. 

Organizers explained that awareness mattered because brain injury could affect anyone. 

"Brain injury can happen to anyone at any moment. None of us expects that to happen," said Ann Geiger, former president of the BIAMT. 

Organizers said the gathering in Missoula helped people better understand brain injury and the support survivors needed. The run also focused on celebrating people in the community who live with brain injuries.

"It's about celebrating it, these are people that we love and are apart of our community," said Heather Grutsch, brain injury survivor. 

For many survivors, the event centered on being with others who understood their experiences.

"Spending time with my community," said Grace Grutsch, brain injury survivor. 

Tyler Schreckendgust also shared what that connection meant during the event. "I dance, I sing, I walk, talk... anything 'you like to live huh' yeah," said Tyler Schreckendgust, brain injury survivor. 

Geiger said events like this helped people learn more about the effects of brain injury and encouraged patience and acceptance. 

"Really important for us to learn about the effects of brain injury and just be patient with one another and accepting," said Geiger. 

The program was founded in the '80s and had continued its work ever since to spread education and awareness about brain injury in Montana.