Ice Skating Legend Dick Button

Dick Button was a prominent figure skater for more than seven years. He won two Olympic gold medals, five world championships and seven U.S. titles. He was the first American to capture figure skating gold at the Olympics and the only skater to make a grand slam sweep of all major titles. He was elected to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1976. As a sports commentator, he became the first winner of an Emmy award for Outstanding Sports Personality. He wrote several books on skating and graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. From there he went on to become a major producer of sports entertainment programs. Button sustained a brain injury January 31, 2000 when he took a spill on the ice. Throughout his hospitalization and to this day, he has no recollection of the fall or what happened thereafter. In order to restore his health, Button required extensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. Button has made a remarkable comeback and makes appearances on behalf of the Association.

For more information contact Geoffrey Lauer at glauer@biausa.org.

NASCAR Legend Ernie Irvan

In 1994, Ernie Irvan was at the top of the NASCAR standings, competing fiercely with Dale Earnhardt for the points championship when he sustained life-threatening injuries, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI), in a horrific crash at Michigan International Speedway (MIS). Irvan triumphantly returned to the NASCAR circuit - only to suffer nearly identical injuries in a crash at the same race track exactly five years to the day after his 1994 incident. This time, the resulting TBI ended his NASCAR racing career.

Though his NASCAR career had ended, Irvan saw another passion emerge - the passion to make a difference in the lives of those suffering from TBI. He has become increasingly determined to use his NASCAR popularity and personal experience to further this mission, and in February of 2004, Irvan formed a non-profit foundation called Race2Safety and works with the Association to educate the public about TBI prevention and help spearhead development of next-generation head protection safety equipment for children.

Bob Woodruff Family Fund for TBI

to assist servicemen and women and their families affected by the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.  http://www.bobwoodrufffamilyfund.org/ 

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Iraq & Back: Bob Woodruff Reports: Watch the Amazing Story of Tragedy & Triumph

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