Saturday, April 17, 2010 -- Morgantown, WV
Healthsouth Cranium Crawl Run & Walk (iPO Event Id#: 12534)

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WVU Athletes Show Support for Local Race

Photos by Maria af Rolen with story by Jason Chastain

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While it was a chilly and windy morning for Healthsouth's 2nd Annual Cranium Crawl, there were warm smiles on the faces of everyone in attendance. It was also heart-warming to see so many join to support such a good cause.

Jamie Brewer and Pam Robinson of Morgantown and Kelly Brewer of Washington, PA were first time participants in the race. Pam's granddaughter Ava was also on-hand to cheer her grandma on. All said the course was tough and windy.

Tressa Barnett heard about the race from her professor in Speech and Pathology and she said it was a good, fun course.

WVU students Shelby, Rory and Sarah all heard of the race from Dr. Wheeler. They all agreed that the course was hard, hilly and windy and joking asked that there be less hills in next year's race.

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April and Stacey of Washington, PA were also racing the Cranium Crawl for the first time and found out about it online. They said it was a fun course.

Team Buddy Axton, comprised of 20 members, participated on behalf of their namesake. Buddy worked for the FBI in Clarksburg and unfortunately fell while waking his dog around Christmas. They said the course was a good and tough and that the organizers and everyone at Healthsouth was helpful and kind.

Brian Weller was in his second Cranium Crawl and had family and friends participating and cheering him on. I spoke to his grandparents, John and Lois Powell of 84, PA and they said that at the time of Brian's injury they didn't think he was going to live.

Brian wrote the following and I was given a copy to share. Understandably, it took a lot for him to write it.

"On September 10, 2008, I fell 28' off a roof and struck my head on concrete. I experienced a brain injury. This injury has effected my speech, comprehension, reading, writing and memory. With support from my family and my therapists I am getting better."

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Team Brian's motto is, "So Far... So Good."

According to Ira Green of MSNsportsNET.com, Members of the West Virginia University men's soccer and wrestling teams attended the second annual Cranium Crawl.

In addition to taking pictures with patients at HealthSouth MountainView Rehab Hospital, student-athletes on both teams set aside time to sign schedule posters and media guides for fans and everyone in attendance on that morning. The Mountaineers in attendance also talked to the participants who were competing in the race and patients at the hospital.