Kevin Pearce Fund donates 10K to Craig Hospital

Kevin Pearce has made a big donation to Craig Hospital, the same hospital that helped rehabilitate him after a life-altering crash in 2009. Pearce’s fund is giving $10,000 to the Englewood hospital, to be used to support patients with traumatic brain injuries.

Kevin Pearce presented Colorado’s Craig Hospital with the first donation from the Kevin Pearce Fund at a press conference on Friday. L-R: Simon Pearce, Pia Pearce, Craig Hospital CEO Mike Fordyce, David Pearce, Kevin Pearce, Craig Hospital Director of Brian Injury Program Dr. Alan Weintraub, Craig Hospital Foundation Executive Director Mary Feller.

For more details, check out the press release below:

Englewood, Colo.— Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado has received a $10,000 donation from Kevin Pearce, a former professional snowboarder and former Craig Hospital patient. Pearce presented the gift at a press conference on Friday, Feb. 28 in Colorado.

On December 31, 2009, while training for the U.S. Olympic trials, Pearce sustained a severe traumatic brain injury. He rehabilitated from his injury at Craig Hospital. Post-accident, Pearce has become a passionate advocate for education and research on traumatic brain injuries and their prevention. His recovery—and his journey to accept his new life—was recently chronicled in “The Crash Reel,” an HBO documentary film directed by Lucy Walker.

Over the past year, Pearce has travelled the country speaking about the film and spreading awareness of his Love Your Brain outreach campaign, a social movement focused on improving lives through brain injury prevention, rehabilitation and brain health.

As part of the Love Your Brain initiative, Pearce established the Kevin Pearce Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation to support organizations that serve individuals and families affected by brain injury, Down syndrome, and other challenges. Pearce has raised more than $100,000 for the fund through the sale of t-shirts, stickers, Simon Pearce glass bowls, and through donations made at his website and at speaking engagements.

The $10,000 donation to Craig Hospital is the first disbursement made from this Fund. The gift will be used to provide direct financial assistance to Craig patients with brain injury and their families.

“My family wanted to help others who are facing the same challenges we experienced during my recovery, and we wanted to give back to the community that stood with us while we were at Craig” says Pearce. “I’m so pleased to be able to help my fellow Craig Family members.”

Pearce and his parents, Simon and Pia, and brothers David and Adam were in Colorado to attend the 2014 Craig Hospital PUSH fundraising gala. At PUSH, Pearce accepted the Christopher and Dana Reeve Inspiration Award. This award is given in recognition of his determination, advocacy, and commitment to serving as a positive and influential role model to those who have sustained a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury.