Written by Kelly Mulcahy Dolan, Member, Board of Directors, The Bronxville School Foundation

Dec. 10, 2014: It's not every day that one has the opportunity to listen to an Olympic contender's story, especially one that includes a severe brain injury and a courageous journey of recovery.

Bronxville High School students recently had the honor of attending a presentation given by Kevin Pearce, a 2010 Olympian snowboard hopeful who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that drastically altered the course of his life. Kevin has since made it his life's work to share his powerful story, from the actual injury to the years of brain rehabilitation and hurdles he had to overcome to get to where he is today.

Kevin's story became the catalyst for the social movement Love Your Brain, as well as the HBO documentary titled The Crash Reel, which depicts his unparalleled experience.

High school students viewed the documentary and then attended the speaking engagement with Kevin Pearce thanks to funding provided by The Bronxville School Foundation.

Kevin Pearce was considered a favorite to make the US Olympic snowboarding team in 2010, but his life-altering accident occurred while performing a halfpipe during training. Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet, which Kevin says saved his life.

After 34 days in critical care, years of rehabilitation, and unconditional support from his family, he desperately wanted to get back to the sport he loved. His family had other feelings, and his doctors told him going back was a real risk; he could not afford to hurt his brain again.

Two years after the accident, Kevin's memory was impaired, and he required major eye surgery. Kevin's life had changed forever, yet he decided to use this as an opportunity to help change the way others think about their brains.

Consequently, the social movement Love Your Brain was formed. Love Your Brain brings people together to connect, educate, and empower. It's about improving lives through a mindful approach that concentrates on brain injury prevention, rehabilitation, and brain health.

Bronxville High School teacher Bill Meyer stated, "As members of the Bronxville community, we are incredibly grateful for the support of The Bronxville School Foundation, which made this day possible, and are thrilled at the opportunity to learn from Kevin's story, be inspired by his passion, and seek to model his commitment to service in our own lives."

Kevin urged the Bronxville High School students to be careful as they progress in their talents and specialized areas of interest. Someone suffers a TBI every 22 seconds. Kevin enthusiastically told students to do what they love but take precautions; be safe first and do things the correct way.

As Bronxville High School sophomore Harry Vollmer said after hearing the presentation, "I thought it was very eye-opening and that it's great to do things in moderation and make sure things are within reach."

Additionally, Kevin pointed out that the power of meditation, yoga, and being mindful has helped him tremendously. He was quick to share the fact that positive thoughts promote healthy cerebellum activity while ANTS (automatic negative thoughts) have the opposite effect. Kevin explained that students must train their brains to deal with negative situations and have the confidence and the ability to let things go.

Finally, after viewing The Crash Reel and hearing Kevin's remarks, students had the opportunity to meet him in person. High school senior Jillian Rohr said, "He was very inspirational. This was the very best presentation and documentary I have ever seen."

Additionally, Lucy Whitney, also a senior, stated, "I thought it was really inspiring about how to treat my brain differently. It made me think of different ways to be successful, and it's not just about being the best at something."

Pictured here: Bronxville High School freshman Spencer Thomas with speaker Kevin Pearce.

Photo courtesy Kelly Mulcahy Dolan, Member, Board of Directors, The Bronxville School Foundation