HEAD STRONG: Fanelli 4 Brain Injury Awareness

HEAD STRONG: Fanelli 4 Brain Injury Awareness is a program created to increase public awareness of brain injury and raise funds for the Brain Injury Association of Canada.

Background

In October 2009, former Kitchener Rangers player Ben Fanelli took a devastating hit to the head from Erie Otters player Mike Liambas. Fanelli was taken to the hospital in critical condition with facial and skull fractures. He survived the accident, stating after his recovery "It's a miracle for me to be able to walk into this room and put together sentences after what I went through." Fanelli eventually returned to the Kitchener Rangers for the 2011–2012 season.

In March 2011, Fanelli founded Head Strong: Fanelli 4 Brain Injury Awareness, with the backing of the Kitchener Rangers, in order to raise awareness of brain injury and to help, and raise funds for, the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC). "Lance Armstrong overcame something that no one thought was possible and I want to replicate that in a different way with my injury," said Fanelli in an interview with BIAC. Armstrong was Fanelli's inspiration and still remains one of his biggest idols. With the support of the Kitchener Rangers behind him Fanelli is collecting donations (which can be made online or in person at the Kitchener Rangers Office), as well as selling HEAD STRONG T-shirts for $20 with proceeds going towards the Brain Injury Association of Canada. Fanelli also stated that during the 2012-2013 hockey season, new Head Strong merchandise would be sold at the Kitchener Auditorium.

Fanelli's contributions and support

Head Strong quickly became just as big a passion to Fanelli as hockey was. Fanelli continues to play hockey in the OHL and does all he can to continue spreading the word about the organization. Two of Fanelli's teammates, Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan Murphy, helped contribute to Fanelli's recovery and fully supported him during his tough times. On June 5, 2011 Fanelli kicked off the first event of Head Strong by participating in the Subaru triathlon in Milton, ON in order to raise funds to support BIAC. For this event, his teammates assisted in his training; "I am the vocal guy out there that keeps him going – Gabe is the guy who can work out with him. But we do our part and can't wait to see him running, swimming and biking," said teammate Ryan Murphy about Fanelli's triathlon training. As well, many public events in support of Head Strong and the Kitchener Rangers can be found around Ontario and are free to attend to raise awareness about brain injury and brain injury in sport. "A concussion is a brain injury now and is common in my sport, hockey," Ben states. "I want to make it known that there is a way to help."

Future

Fanelli has hopes that eventually Head Strong will be as well known an organization as that of his idol's Livestrong by Lance Armstrong. As Head Strong quickly approaches the organization's two-year anniversary in March 2013, there has been tremendous support from dozens of hockey players, such as hockey icon Don Cherry to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and many other figures.

Fanelli continues to spread the word about Headstrong to raise awareness about brain injuries and donations towards BIAC. He doesn't play in the OHL anymore. Just Beer League with some beauties.