Headway Inc.

2/28
Has been a little bit of time since I have updated the page, but in the time since I got in contact with one of the cofounders of the foundation. It was awesome to talk with him and hear about his story. A massive part of concussion rehabilitation is being able to hear from others who have been through what you have. It makes that light at the end of the tunnel a little bit brighter. 

I really was blown away by this campaign, so much so I ran out of bodily surface area to put silly clothing items on. I set my goal originally at $1,000 with a pipe dream of hitting it, and that was demolished through within a week. I then bumped it up to $2,500. This process is not about numbers and me feeling validated to have run a good fundraiser. I'm pushing for an organization I have grown to care a lot about, and a cause that has impacted my life, and so many people around me. I have frankly ran out of ideas if I hit $2,500, and if we do not reach that number, it's ok. Regardless I'm going to continue to try and raise as many dollars as I can for Headway. 

On the training side of things I have been following a pretty straight forward plan that has distances all laid out, so I've just been trying to stick to the plan (pun intended) as well as possible. With all the things I'm going to be wearing I'm conflicted about wanting to get used to running in them, but there'd be the terrifying sight of a red haired kid running around Columbia, MO with a cowboy hat, a tutu, and a superman cape on. In regards to the bleached hair, I am going in a few days before the race to get it done the right way- mom said I could bleach my hair as long as I don't try and do it myself and butcher it. ❤️ you mom. 
 
God bless, 
Austin 

2/18
This has blown me away! In less than two days you guys have put me over 3/4 of the way to my goal. I have seriously underestimated the generosity of those around me, people I have not been around for years, or even never met! I want to thank each and every person who has donated so far. Bleached hair seemed so far away, but I think it is only a matter of time.... 

❤️ ❤️ ❤️
- Austin 


Hello! My name is Austin Cleveland and I am running a half marathon to raise money for Headway Foundation (501(c)(3)), and to spread awareness about sports related concussions.  

For your donations, all of which will be sent to the Headway Foundation, I want to do something fun with my run. The more money I raise, the sillier I will look for your enjoyment. 

IF DONATIONS REACH:

$250: I will wear a big farmers hat during my run

$500: I will wear a superman cape and a big farmers hat

$750: I will wear a pink tutu, a superman cape, and a big farmers hat

$1,000: I will bleach my hair before the run, wear a pink tutu, a superman cape, and a big farmers hat

I WANT TO LOOK SILLY! 
Follow me on [email redacted]veland for more updates



For those who do not know me, I was a hockey player. It consumed every part of my life for the majority of my youth. I played competitive travel when I was younger, high school (Pioneer Pride!), and even made the jump to junior hockey.

(Still have the same tooth gap...)
(Always carry your own gear!)

By junior year of high school I had my sights set on a Division 1 scholarship in order to have my education paid for, and continue doing what I loved. It was a goal that I wouldn't be denied from. Training, and eating right, everything was in my hands to get there!
(It actually wasn't)

April 9th 2018
The semifinals of the Tier 1 u18 National Championships against the Cape Cod Whalers. I make a play on a puck, and get buried head first into the boards. Blindsided. I didn't see it coming at all. I get to the bench feeling like the controller on my Xbox just died in a game of NHL and I can't make the player move. Except it's me, and my whole body is numb. If you've never had a concussion before (first off, good for you!), it feels like when you stand up too fast from a chair, and you're dizzy and just feel weird, except the feeling doesn't go away for a while (Please do not listen to me for medical advice, go to a doctor if you think you have a concussion- don't listen to my stupid little anecdotes). It was my first of three concussions, the third of which was 18 months later. From this first one, I healed relatively quick and was back to normal within a month. 

February 3, 2019
In a practice, I collide with one of my teammates. Skating backwards, he ran into the back of my head. I feel weird. The question "is this another concussion" lingered. Well, it was. With my senior year high school playoffs going on, I felt the pressure of returning. I bounced around to a doctor, a physical therapist, an acupuncturist, a massage therapist, three chiropractors, a craniosacral therapist (look it up), and nothing was working. I had to reexplain what was going on to each specialist- there was no common thread of communication, and I was left confused on why I wasn't healing. My neck was messed up, and my brain hurt. I scraped by through school. I counted the days- I had a headache 31 days in a row. I didn't know if I would ever play hockey again...

Thankfully, I began to feel better- after nearly 5 months. I began to train again, to prepare for my first junior season for the Topeka Pilots in the North American Hockey League. When I got to Topeka, things were going well, but I could tell I had holdbacks. I was "healthy," but the emotional trauma of the first half of the year had scarred me. I wasn't going to be the enforcer on the team, that was clear already, but I felt more hesitant and scared to get hit. But then of course, play scared, and you'll get hit. Which I did.

October 20, 2019
The night after getting credit for my first junior goal because a Springfield Jr. Blue put it in his own net (true story), I got rocked... and it ended my career. My third concussion in 18 months.  I had to consider if it was worth it to continue playing. It wasn't. I was going to attend college at some point (I was not going to the NHL), and I would rather be able to succeed in college than struggle to focus due to continued brain damage.

I went home, and thanks to an amazing team at Rankin Jordan Pediatric bridge hospital, I got healthier, quicker, than I ever would've. I worked with a team of specialists who communicated about what each person was doing, got a holistic analysis of my problem, and HEALED. 

More than anything, I am thankful and blessed to have received the treatment that I did. I also am thankful I did not have it worse than I did. I am not here to preach about how unfortunate my situation was for your pity, rather to give insight into a systematic issue in concussion rehabilitation, and the culture around concussions that I witnessed firsthand. I want to improve the culture and research around the issue, not make it about me. 

To anyone who is struggling with concussions... from my experience: 

1) Do what is best for your health. That doesn't necessarily mean quit your sport, but put your health first. 
2) Hang on to loved ones and reach out. It is O.K. to not be O.K. Mentally ill does not mean mentally weak. 
3) There is light at the end of the tunnel. Do the exercises your therapist gives you, and keep pushing.