Texas Fundraiser Will Benefit Our Returning Heroes Who Have Traumatic Brain Injuries

Austin, TX   (CompNewsNetwork) - The Peace of Mind 5K, the first-ever rally/walk/run in the nation saluting Americans with combat-related traumatic brain injuries, will kick off Saturday, June 14, in Austin.

Walkers, runners or people who simply want to rally in support of Americans who have borne the battle and sustained combat-related brain injuries are invited to gather for this inaugural event at 8 a.m. June 14 -- which is Flag Day. The Peace of Mind 5K will start at 15th Street and Congress Avenue, just north of the state Capitol. One thousand American flags will be distributed to attendees to wave in support of those who have served our country.

Proceeds from the Peace of Mind 5K will benefit the Defense/Veterans Brain Injury Centers, the Helping a Hero Organization, the Brain Injury Association of Texas and Easter Seals Central Texas.

A recent RAND Corp. report states that 320,000 U.S. military veterans have sustained combat-related brain injuries. Some estimates indicate 20,000 servicemembers have sustained combat-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result of the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war's so-called "signature injury." Even mild TBI can cause problems with thinking, planning, concentration, language or irritability. These problems often are unrecognized or unappreciated as being related to TBI and, therefore, can be "invisible" to those who aren't familiar with the disorder.

Overall, TBI affects about 1.5 million Americans every year. At least 5.3 million Americans currently need long-term help with daily activities as a result of brain injury. Direct medical costs and indirect costs, such as lost productivity, of TBI added up to an estimated $60 billion in the United States in 2000.
 
"As Americans, we should honor and serve those who have served our country and have made great sacrifices. These heroes deserve our full support in returning to society and leading full lives," says Dr. R.W. Van Boven, an Austin neurologist who chairs the Peace of Mind 5K organizing committee. "The Peace of Mind 5K is designed to bring Texans together with one unified purpose -- a rally of support for American heroes who have been wounded at war."

Sponsors of the Peace of Mind 5K are Goodrich, RunTex and CBS 42 KEYE.

Leading the rally for the Peace of Mind 5K will be Texas Gov. Rick Perry; Brigadier General James Gilman, commander of Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio; Major General Charles G. Rodriguez, adjutant general of Texas, and Colonel Michael Jaffe, national director of the Defense/Veterans Brain Injury Centers.

Taped tributes from U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas and music legend Willie Nelson will be shown. The Peace of Mind 5K also will feature a flyover of military helicopters.

To register for the Peace of Mind 5K or to make a donation, visit http://www.runtex.com/web/2-2077.asp. The registration fee is $20 per person until June 8 and an additional $5 after that.

For more information Contact:  John Egan of UpWord Communications, +1-512-799-1022, john@upwordcommunications.com, for Peace of Mind 5K  http://www.runtex.com/web/2-2077.asp