Rochester Reporter

On Monday, June 3, 2024, Mayor Malik D. Evans announced that Golisano Restorative Neurology & Rehabilitation Center of Rochester Regional Health has collected more than 100 bicycle and skate helmets to distribute free of charge to children learning to bike and skate at City R-Centers.

“Small steps like taking a moment to put on a helmet can make all the difference to protect a kid from a life-altering brain injury,” said Mayor Evans. “We’re so grateful to Rochester Regional Health, the local businesses who hosted donation boxes and the entire community who jumped at the opportunity to support kids learning how to bike and skate in a safe way.”

In honor of Brain Injury Awareness Month, the team at Rochester Regional Health’s Golisano Restorative Neurology & Rehabilitation Center spent the month of March collecting new bike and skate helmets. Teaming up with several local businesses, Rochester Regional Health (RRH) placed drop boxes throughout Rochester, collected dozens of helmets, and raised over $1,000 to purchase additional helmets.

Partnering with Rochester Regional Health were Bert’s Bikes & Fitness, The Bike Zone, City of Rochester, Cellino Law Firm, Assemblyman Josh Jensen, Endless Highways, Erie Canal Boat Company, Irondequoit Library, Rochester Accessible Adventures, Three Heads Brewing Company, Town of Perinton Recreation Department, and Towpath Bike.

“They say the best treatment is to prevent an injury from ever even happening,” said Dr. Sean Silverman, Medical Director of Golisano Restorative Neurology & Rehabilitation. "That's why Golisano Rehab's mission is two-fold: to treat and prevent. Each helmet donated is a tangible step towards brain injury prevention."

Since 1989, the Golisano Restorative Neurology & Rehabilitation Center at Unity Hospital has provided the Rochester community with education on how to prevent brain injuries while providing comprehensive rehabilitation after a brain injury occurs. RRH’s rehabilitation program is the largest of its kind in the Finger Lakes region and is home to the only CARF-accredited rehabilitation center in Central and Western New York for both pediatric and adult patients.

If you missed out on the opportunity to donate to the helmet drive, donations are still being accepted online at www.rochealth.com/helmet.

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