IAM to celebrate brain injury awareness day

GUILDERLAND — In honor of Brain Injury Awareness Day, the members of the Injury Acceptance Maturation group at Living Resources is holding an event in Tawasentha Park.

The barbecue, to be held on Aug. 25, will feature music, games, and information for brain-injury survivors and their family and friends.

Laurie Bosco, employed by Living Resources and the group leader of IAM, said the event has grown much larger than expected.

“It started out as a small picnic, and now we’re anticipating an attendance of 250 to 300 people,” Bosco said. The members of IAM, all brain injury survivors, did most of the planning. They created the invitation, designed T-shirts, and helped organize the information fair.

Participants include Sunnyview Hospital; Center for the Disabled; Catholic Charities; and the Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society, which will be running a pet adoption program at the event.

“It’s going to be a celebration of survival, and it will provide the latest information and resources on recovering from a brain injury,” said Bosco, noting that the members of IAM were thrilled to be able to help with public awareness.

The event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Aug. 25 in Tawasentha Park, off of Route 146 in Guilderland.