Eric Lindros keeps pushing as local concussion research get $3M boost
The London-based battle against concussions received a major infusion of funds Thursday.
Western University announced $3.125 million in funding will be going to researchers at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry for research into concussions.
The money comes from the completion of the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) challenge, which began six years ago with the NHLPA’s $500,000 initial gift challenging the community to build on it to reach the $3.125 million figure.
The money will support research at Schulich and the Robarts Research Institute to better understand the symptoms and biomarkers of concussions with an aim to finding ways to top the effects of what has become one of the most devastating injuries not only in sports but in many walks of life.
It’s all part of See the Line, a 10-year program that is looking to educate athletes, coaches, parents and others in the community about the impact of concussion. It is now in its sixth year. Western was holding a See the Line symposium Thursday to provide education, discussion and community information on concussion research and awareness.
And while former National Hockey League star Eric Lindros was again front and centre for his advocacy work on concussion research and prevention, it was 11-year-old Sheldon Geerts who put a real face to the fact that concussion injury knows no age, sport or walk of life.