Coastal Authority and Team Frog are proudly teaming up in the 2015 Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships held in Honolulu, Hawaii to raise $120,000 for veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to obtain treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The M2O is a grueling 32 mile paddleboard race across the 2,300 foot deep Ka’iwi Channel between the Hawaiian islands of Molokai and Oahu. This channel is known as one of the world’s most treacherous bodies of water.
The veteran paddleboarders of Team Frog are true athletes and experienced paddleboarders. They train year ’round for this race. To even be able to enter the race, the racer must be able to paddle 10 miles in less than 2 hours. This year, they are proud to be dedicating their M2O paddleboard race to honor their fellow comrades with TBI.
Traumatic brain injury is caused by a jarring of the head, possibly from a fall, explosion or blow to the head. The jarring causes damage to brain tissue, blood vessels and cells that link areas of the brain, and the brain to the body.
In 2013 alone, there were more than 27,000 new cases of TBI in returning veterans.
According to the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, the VA recognizes that many veterans will not receive early diagnosis or will not seek treatment. And in individuals with chronic, persistent symptoms of TBI, “traditional medical interventions are less than successful”. Tragically, some veterans with TBI have reached such a point of despair from these symptoms that they have taken their own lives.
But, there is hope on the horizon.
Carrick Brain Center in Irving, Texas, is a treatment center that focuses on treating combat veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. Veterans who have received treatment from Carrick are reporting great success with this treatment and a restored quality of life. Insurance is not currently covering these treatments for TBI.
We need your help and support. 100% of the proceeds from Coastal Authority and Team Frog’s M2O Race for Veterans with TBI will go directly to Carrick Brain Center for veterans to receive treatment for TBI. All donations are tax deductible.
If 6,000 people gave $20 we would reach our goal! Please share our cause with any friends and family members who you think may want to take part. You can “like” M2O Race for Veterans with TBI’s Facebook page by clicking this link: https://www.facebook.com/m2oracefortbi?ref=hl
We will be sharing information from Team Frog’s 2014 M2O race experience, training, pre-M2O race events and also our Crowdrise Fundraiser link which should be up and running shortly.
We look forward to the journey! Thank you for your support!
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