Going the Distance for Brain Injury Races into its 35th Year

Miraculous Brain Injury Survivor, KCPD Officer Moss, champions the race as the 2022 Honoree to support the Brain Injury Association of Greater Kansas City and Kansas

Kansas City’s connection to the Memorial Day Race, Going the Distance for Brain Injury, is personal. Friends of Kansas Citian Amy Thompson launched the race 35 years ago in her honor as she fought to survive a debilitating brain injury. They hoped to gain awareness and support for individuals and their family members affected by brain injury.

Sponsored by the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City, Going the Distance for Brain Injury race is the successor of that original race organized by Amy’s friends. The 2022 event is Monday, May 30, at 8 am on Memorial Day in Loose Park, just south of the Plaza. This Kansas City racing tradition includes 5K and 10K runs and a 1.5-mile walk, a virtual race, and children’s event.

At age 24, Amy Thompson’s life changed after an attempted robbery that left her with a brain injury. Her friends and family offered Amy encouragement and support. Several years after her injury Amy passed away but her legacy is still associated with today’s race.

“Thompson’s story and her friends’ efforts made a lasting impact. People often still refer to the race as the Amy Thompson Run and feel close to the cause that impacts someone in the U.S. every eighteen seconds,” said Robin Abramowitz, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Greater Kansas City and Kansas. “Since then, many advances to help those with brain injuries have been made. One such example is in our 2022 race honoree, Kansas City Police Department Officer Tyler Moss.”

Officer Moss was given a one percent chance of living after being shot in the head by a gunman on July 2, 2020.  Police on the scene rushed Moss to what is now University Health (formerly Truman Medical Center). His recovery was miraculous and reflected Moss’s tenacity to relearn everything from eating to talking to walking. Moss currently is working at the KCPD Police Academy, retraining and mentoring other officers.

Abramowitz added, “Tyler’s journey offers hope and sparks the conversation about brain injuries. The BIAKS-GKC connects people to resources to improve outcomes for individuals living with brain injuries. The race is one of our largest fundraisers, so we encourage everyone to register, participate in the run or walk, and have fun for this good cause.”

Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders will be at the race, and former wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, Marc Boerigter will serve as Honorary Walk for Thought Chair. He is a record-holder for the longest touchdown reception in Chiefs and NFL history. Marc is an active member of the KC Chiefs Ambassadors and has hosted the Chiefs pregame show for the last 11 years on a local sports radio station.

Participants in the race will receive a commemorative 2022 race shirt designed by former race honoree James McGinnis, who received a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during a football game his senior year at Olathe East High School. He was given a seven percent chance to live yet beat the odds and is now an artist spreading his message of love.

Race details and registration are available at www.biaksrun.org

About The Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City (BIAKS-GKC)

The Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City (BIAKS-GKC) is the only nonprofit in Kansas and the Greater Kansas City metro solely devoted to serving individuals living with brain injuries, their family members, and the professionals who treat them. BIAKS-GKC’s mission is to provide ongoing brain injury advocacy, education, and resources. The association is largely funded through donations, grants, and special events, including the beloved Memorial Day run, Going the Distance for Brain Injury. Founded in 1982, BIAKS-GKC is a chartered affiliate of the Brain Injury Association of America, a network of brain injury associations across the United States. www.biaks.org