Please hold for release on Tuesday, March 11

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March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
New Documentary Chronicles Recovery from Brain Injury Caused By Car Crashes

Traffic crashes biggest cause of traumatic brain injury for people under 60GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 11, 2008 -- As National Brain Injury Awareness Month is being commemorated this month, a new documentary film that chronicles the often painfully slow process of recovery from traumatic brain injury caused by car crashes will have its world premiere showing here on March 11, before an invitation-only crowd. "The Other Breakfast Club" follows the stories of six people under 30 who suffered traumatic brain injury from car crashes, which resulted in coma and intensive rehabilitation. At various stages of recovering their past lives, the group, which calls itself The Other Breakfast Club, meets monthly for moral support.

Traffic crashes are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) for people under age 60, according to the Brian Injury Association of America. Some 382,000 people suffer traumatic brain injury as a result of traffic crashes every year. The film, produced by The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. and directed by award-winning filmmaker Mark Sadan, is having its debut showing in Grand Rapids, where The Other Breakfast Club meets and where its members underwent rehabilitative therapy.

"The film gives an accurate picture of how painful, long and frustrating the road to recovery from traumatic brain injury can be," said Michael F. Dabbs, President of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan. "Many of the devastating brain injuries sustained every year from traffic crashes are preventable," he added. "It's a needless waste."

"The stories of the courageous young people in the film show how much greater the toll of traffic crashes is than the 42,000 deaths we read about every year," said Fraydun Manocherian, Founder and Chairman of The National Road Safety Foundation. "Among the hundreds of thousands of serious injuries are thousands of life-altering tragedies from crash-related traumatic brain injuries. It's something the victims and their families live with for the rest of their lives."

"The Other Breakfast Club" follows the stories of six young people -- Kelley Syverson, Adora Trostle, Amy Tromp, David Tubergen, Eric Horton and Amber Hora. Each was in a coma following a traffic crash, and after years of therapy they are still trying to resume their lives.

Three specialized healthcare facilities in Grand Rapids have been assisting the members of The Other Breakfast Club in their recovery. They are Spectrum Health Continuing Care, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, and Hope Network Rehabilitation Services.

"The people who work with patients with TBI are truly angels," said Other Breakfast Club member Kelley Syverson, who was injured nearly six years ago at age 24. "In many cases, recovery from TBI means having to re-learn virtually everything, from hand-eye coordination to thinking through the various steps involved just to feed yourself. It takes unimaginable patience from both the patient and the rehab workers."

"Like many young people, I thought I was invincible," said David Tubergen, 27, who was injured at age 23 when his car, speeding at 90 mph, left the road and flipped five times. "The most important lesson I hope people get from this film is to value your life by driving responsibly."

"The Other Breakfast Club," which runs 47 minutes, is offered free for showing in classrooms and before other groups. The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit group formed more than 40 years ago, produces and distributes free films and teaching materials that deal with drinking & driving, speed and aggressive driving, drowsy and distracted driving. All materials are downloadable free at the NRSF website at www.nationalroadsafety.org or call 1-800-SAFEPATH.

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) is the leading national organization serving and representing individuals, families and professionals who are touched by traumatic brain injury. With a network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates and hundreds of local chapters and support groups nationwide, the BIAA provides information, education and support to assist the 5.3 million Americans currently living with traumatic brain injury, as well as their families. BIAA can be reached at 1-800-444-6443 or at www.biausa.org.