From the Brain Aneurysm Foundation
It is estimated that up to 1 in 50 people in the U.S. will develop a brain aneurysm during their lifetime. Brain aneurysms are a silent killer because they often present with no prior symptoms or symptoms that are often ignored or misdiagnosed. The statistics after a brain aneurysm ruptures are grim: of the 30,000 people that suffer a rupture each year, almost half of the victims will die, and of those surviving, only a third will recover without disabilities. While the vast majority of brain aneurysms occur in adults over 40, they can also strike children and young adults, often resulting in death.
Austen Dunn, a Fredericksburg native, and a graduate of Fredericksburg Academy and the College of William and Mary, passed away suddenly from complications of a massive ruptured brain aneurysm on September 24, 2016, at the young age of 23. Until that time Austen had seemed completely healthy, and there were no outward signs that a brain aneurysm was present. Her loss has been devastating to her
friends and family.
The goal of Austen’s Communitas 5K Walk is to raise awareness and funding to further the study of this awful medical condition that affects so many people, and to support other families that have had similar experiences. In keeping with Austen’s belief in Communitas, an idea that when people go through an experience together a special bond is created, a committee of Austen’s family and friends are holding:
Austen’s Communitas 5k Walk
September 22, 2018, 10:00 a.m. (9:00 packet pick-up)
Starting and ending at Old Mill Park in Fredericksburg
Registration deadline: September 7, 2018 (to guarantee a T-shirt)
$25 per person, benefiting the Brain Aneurysm Foundation
Register here.
The event will conclude with a gathering in the Old Mill Park pavilion featuring music and a food truck.
