Last year’s Brain Injury Awareness Walk raised more than $8,500 and sent 12 local survivors to Camp Hardgrove, a Georgia-based camp that is one of the nation’s only summer camps for adult survivors of brain injuries.

Organizers hope to do the same this year and invite survivors, their families, local medical and therapy staff, and anyone who supports brain injury awareness to lace up their shoes and polish their wheels to roll, walk and run during the 7th Annual Brain Injury Awareness Walk.

This year’s walk is Saturday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Columbia County Amphitheater, 7022 Evans Town Center Blvd. (behind the Columbia County Library), and is presented by the Walton Foundation for Independence, NeuroRestorative Georgia and the Brain Injury Association of Georgia.

The event is also an important fundraiser for the Augusta Brain Injury Support Group, which meets on the second Thursday of every month at NeuroRestorative Georgia, 2501 Center West Pkwy. The group connects families and local survivors to create a powerful support network, and features social activities, education and more.

“The annual Brain Injury Awareness Walk is a signature event for our support group,” said walk co-chair Patty Goolsby, a program director at NeuroRestorative Georgia. “Our survivors look forward to it every year and take an active role in planning and supporting the event. We encourage anyone who has been affected by a brain injury or who supports brain injury awareness to join us and experience this great event.”

Registration is $20 ($10 for brain injury survivors), and includes a T-shirt and lunch. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Vellotones, featuring NeuroRestorative Medical Director Dr. John Rigg, as well as The Smilin’ Duck Band. To sign up or for more information, contact Patty Goolsby at 706-840-9676, [email protected], or Marti Hanson, 706-284-6153, [email protected].