Cinnaminson Middle School Students, Staff Don Green For Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Day

CINNAMINSON, NJ — For the third consecutive year, the Cinnaminson Middle School recognized Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Day by asking students and staff to wear green.

March is Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month, and March 22 is Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill.

In Cinnaminson, the day has a special meaning, as eighth grader Lily Nichols lost her father, Jeffrey, to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in 2014. He suffered the injury when he fell off a ladder and hit his head in September of 2013, and passed away the following spring. She dedicated her win $10,000 win on the Food Network Show “Chopped” to her father.

Since then, she’s continued to spread awareness about TBI in the community.

“This cause is really important to the family,” Cinnaminson Middle School Principal Frank Goulburn said.
Goulburn said there has been a great response from the students and staff in the school, and they will try to continue the tradition even after Lily Nichols moves on to the high school next year.

Cinnaminson Mayor Anthony Minniti also presented a proclamation for Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness to Lily Nichols at a recent committee meeting, according to the Cinnaminson Sun.

The theme for Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month for the past three years has been “Not Alone,” according to the Brain Injury Association of America

The association says 137 people in the U.S. die because of a TBI-related injury every day, and at least 5.3 million Americans live with TBI-related disabilities. The most common cause of TBI is falls, followed by being hit in the head or striking it against something, being involved in a car accident and being assaulted, among other reasons.

For a full list of facts, click here.

The attached image of Cinnaminson Middle School students and staff on Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Day was provided by Lisa Nichols