Bears' Hillenmeyer coming to Hersey High
A Hersey High School grad and former athlete whose life was changed by concussions is joining with Chicago Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer to raise awareness of the importance of properly handling head injuries in sporting events.
Chris Nowinski and Hillenmeyer will give a free presentation from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, at Hersey High School, 1900 E. Thomas St., Arlington Heights.
"I essentially lost my career," Nowinski, a retired professional wrestler who has personally dealt with multiple head injuries, said about the impact concussions had on his life.
In 2007, Nowinski started the Sports Legacy Institute with Dr. Robert Cantu in Boston, Mass.
The organization, of which he is president, sponsored legislation in Massachusetts to make it illegal for a player to return to a game after a suspected concussion in a youth sporting event. Nowinski said that there are now 20 other states with similar legislation pending.
"We're trying to bring culture change to different places," he said.
The free event will be followed by a cocktail fundraiser for SLI at Bristol Court in Mount Prospect from 7:30-10 p.m. Hillenmeyer will be present at the cocktail fundraiser.
The fundraiser is being held in honor of Reggie Fleming, a past NHL hockey star whose family donated his brain to the SLI for research following his death in 2009.
Nowinski said that his organization recently received a $10 million grant for a five-year study. Much of the research deals with a degenerative brain disease called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. As of now, the disease can only be found post-mortem.
In addition to athletes suffering sports injuries, the SLI is including military veterans as part of its "at risk groups." Veterans can develop CTE from blast injuries from improvised explosive devices.
"Training can also cause injury," said Nowinski about the dangers of boot camp. He said, for example, that West Point Academy still includes boxing in its training.
SLI is trying to get sports players and military veterans to donate their brains after they die to further the research on these conditions.
Nowinski said he hopes to fill the 400 person auditorium at Hersey Tuesday evening.
The educational session will be geared toward high school coaches, athletes, parents and medical professionals.
The cocktail fundraiser costs $75 and will include a silent auction. For tickets to the cocktail reception, visit slireggie.eventbrite.com, and to register for the free educational session, visit sportslegacychicagohs.eventbrite.com.