Brain injury survivor runs 98 miles to raise awareness

Date: 8/30/2010

Aug. 30, 2010

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW -- During the past few years, B.J. Williams has been setting personal challenges for himself designed to raise money and inspire those who have been affected by brain injury or head trauma.

On Aug. 24, he completed his toughest challenge yet, running 98 miles from Longmeadow to Boston in order to raise awareness about brain injury. He completed the run in 22 hours and 31 minutes.

"I've taken part in two Ironmans, but this by far was the longest and hardest thing I've ever done," Williams said.

The Longmeadow resident suffered a severe head injury in a car accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike in 2005 and sustained multiple skull fractures as well as difficulties with his senses of smell, taste and hearing. He also required three major skin grafts.

Williams was a promising hockey player, but the accident changed all that. Williams said he decided to become an advocate for brain and head trauma and help in the education of the public about it and its effects.

"It's really an eye-opener for a lot of people," Williams said. "A lot of people don't realize the seriousness of brain injury and that's why I took up the cause. Doing things like this run is a way of introducing it to the public."

Williams has also hosted the B.J. Williams Road Race, which includes a half-mile survivor walk, a 5K fun walk, a 5K road race and a 10K road race. the past three years to raise money for the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA).

While his primary concern is raising awareness of brain injury and inspiring those who deal with it, Williams said that he hopes his challenges inspire people with stories different from his own.

"I think it's a way of showing people battling anything life changing, whether it's a brain injury or cancer, or someone coming home from war, that there can be something more," Williams said. "I just stumbled onto [running]. I had never run before. Now I love doing this more than playing hockey. I think it's better to know I'm doing something important. It's more important to inspire someone than score the winning goal."

Williams, who has also traveled around Western Massachusetts speaking to the public about the subject, hopes that when people meet an area resident who has to deal with the effects of head trauma, it will help them realize it can happen to anyone.

"I think especially with young adolescents, it's good for them to know that it can happen to someone locally," Williams said. "It's not only happening to the guy in this other state. It can happen to you, too."

If there's one point that Williams wants to get across to people, it's that brain injury is something that stays with someone for a lifetime.

"It's permanent. You can't go to the doctor's and get a new brain," Williams said. "It's something that physically, mentally and emotionally can impair you for the rest of your life."