Shine a Light on CTE — Help Prove There's Hope

I'm Elisabeth, raising funds for my friend Ange, 43. — an all-round sportswoman from Hokitika on the West Coast. From rugby to skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking and more, Ange lived for sport. In 2011, after years of repeated head knocks since childhood, she had her first seizure just eight days after her last rugby game of the season. Instead of being treated for brain injury, she was misdiagnosed with a psychiatric condition, and later forcibly detained in a psychiatric unit and forcefully drugged for something she does not have. For fourteen years, Ange kept saying: "This is from the head knocks, I have a brain injury." Ange has fought hard to gain back control of her life. Even while experiencing progressive decline, she has connected with the international CTE community and found purpose in helping others facing the same fight. Now she wants to heal — not a miracle cure, but real, tangible improvement. And she wants to prove it's possible for others too. For everyone with a brain injury who is told their symptoms are "all in their head." The Vielight Neuro Gamma 4 is a clinically researched brain photobiomodulation device that delivers near-infrared light to stimulate brain cell repair. It could be life-changing for Ange. As Ange says: "The only way through is together." Every dollar helps prove that hope is real. Learn more: www.ctematterstome.org.nz