Paying Tribute to a Great Role Model Brian Bratcher (1963-2019)

Reader’s Note: The Brian Bratcher and George Bratcher quotes that I used for this article are from my 2002 documentary, Brian’s Run.

On August 26, 1978, West Chester Henderson High School sophomore, Brian Bratcher, broke his neck during a football scrimmage. As a result, he was never able to use his arms or his legs again.

Brian Bratcher died October 21, 2019. He was 56 years old.

Adjusting to Paralysis

Brian Bratcher remembered lying in the hospital bed:

“I finally had the nerve to ask the doctors if I would ever walk again and the doctors said that with each passing week, the chances became less and less, and I cried after that.”

His father, George Bratcher, added:

“He was in Jefferson (Hospital) for, I believe, about eight months, and I visited him five days a week, and some nights I stayed with him. We had a conversation about that. We talked about how he could have been dead, because 10 years earlier if you had had an injury like that you would have died, so I told him that he had to move on with his life.”

Brian Bratcher decided to be the best Brian that he could be.

“I always had a work ethic as far as running, my sports,” said Brian. “I had learned discipline, and my discipline went through my rehabilitation, so to speak. So I continued to fight to be the best person I could be both physically and spiritually.”

The West Chester, Pa. community decided to put on a one-time 10K race to defray Brian’s high medical expenses. They hoped to raise $500.00, but to their shock they raised $20,000. Brian was so moved by this great outpouring of support that he asked that Brian’s Run continue every year, with proceeds going to other people in need.

Brian’s Run became a 41-year West Chester tradition. (The race’s distance changed from 10K to five miles in 2009.)

Rough Times

In 2009, Brian’s Run was in need of a new race director, so West Chester resident John Manion volunteered for the job because the race risked being discontinued. He still holds that post today.

“I did not feel that the legacy of Brian’s Run should come to an abrupt end,” said Manion. “I had run the race a bunch of times. I was just a participant.”

Becoming the race director has become a true labor of love for Manion. With great joy, he has seen runners who competed in Brian’s Run over 20 years ago, now run it with their grandchildren.

“For many entrants, Brian’s Run is a family tradition,” said Manion.

Prize money for the winners fell from the thousand-dollar range to just a few hundred dollars. This year, the first male finisher, Matthew Herring (26:31.7), and the first female finisher, Stephanie Knast (29:01.3), received only $150.00 each. Manion attributed the decrease in the prize money to the reduced number of race participants. But the continuation of the race mattered more to Manion and the other race organizers than these financial setbacks.

Manion is now stepping down as race director.

“My plan was to do it for 10 years,” said Manion. “Right now we are working on finding a new race director. I believe that this race will continue because it’s been a great community event.”

Manion said that his most special moment as race director was at the start of the 2018 Brian’s Run.

“It was cold and rainy that day,” said Manion. “I didn’t want to be there, and neither did some of the volunteers. Then Brian arrived and he was smiling and friendly to everyone. I thought what right did I have to complain when this guy was persevering for years and years and years, suffering because of his new lifestyle. He had a positive perspective on everything. That was so humbling. He was so good to be around. I always left his presence thinking that there was such goodness in the world because of him.”

Brian’s brother Byrin Bratcher shared Manion’s sentiments.

“Brian was always concerned about other people,” said Byrin Bratcher. “He always wanted to know what was going on in their lives.” Brian showed how much he cared about the runners because every year he waited at the finish line, regardless of weather conditions, to congratulate each and every runner.

This past December 8 was the first Brian’s Run to take place without Brian being there.

A few minutes before the race began, at the starting line, Brian’s stepmother, Susan Bratcher, told the runners that Brian was still there in spirit.

“A lot of people at the race came up to me and expressed their condolences,” said Byrin. He said that neither he nor his family were sad. “Brian fought a good fight for 40 years. The sad part was watching him the week before he died. He went from barely whispering to nodding his head to just blinking his eyes.”

Byrin elaborated that his brother’s infected bedsores greatly contributed to his death.

“Brian was in and out of the hospital so much since April,” said his brother. “Doctors were talking about amputating his leg and pelvis. That would have been very hard for Brian.”

Byrin believes that Brian’s Run will continue because of its great sense of community.

“Things like that just don’t stop,” said Byrin. He also plans to be at the race every year.