Yet another Profound woman - Kelly Brush

[SnowHot]

Several weeks ago Epic posted his intent to ride in the Kelly Brush Century. At the time, I read his post, I thought it was interesting but didn't have time to look at the details, or follow the link.
Tomorrow is this Fund raising ride, and I'm ashamed that I didn't post this before now.
This is a cause worth donating, to, but even if you can't, you should read about this amazing young woman.

Here is a bit of her story, and the link to her site.

Kelly's dream was cut short on February 18, 2006 at Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts, at the Williams College Winter Carnival. The Giant Slalom trail was solid and fast after rain the previous day. Kelly, starting number 12, came over a knoll and caught an edge on an icy patch. She fought to stay in the course but her ski edge grabbed and she was catapulted off the trail, striking a lift tower stanchion as she fell. Her injuries included a spinal fracture at the T 7-8 level, four fractured ribs, a fractured vertebra in her neck, and a collapsed lung. Her helmet cracked and flew off during the fall but luckily it saved her from any trauma to her brain. For full story go here

 

[Ski Spirit]

SH,
Thanks for sharing the story with us.
Her courage is inspiring.

 

[ski diva]

What an amazing young woman! And what strength is must take to resume skiing/biking/etc. after all she's been through.

Thanks for posting this, SnowHot! It's great how she can take what's happened to her and use it to help others, instead of despairing.

 

[SnowHot]

As Epic said, and I can only echo emphatically.
"I can't believe she foreran williams race a year after her crash."

https://www.kellybrushfoundation.org/articles/KellyBrushBFP32307_O.pdf

 

[sibhusky]

Just reading this makes me feel a lot better about my daughter hanging up her racing skis after last season (she is now a junior in college). My husband always hated it and worried, especially after she started going on the FIS circuit, which was uncool for mom to come on and also too expensive for both of us to go. We spent a lot of bucks on the whole racing thing over the years. Was it worth it? Yes, since she has all her working parts and is a beautiful skier. It also gave her an inner strength and maturity uncommon in the other girls her age I have met.

But, thank God she was never injured. One of her early coaches said the best racers were not necessarily the good students, because the good students were all too aware of the risks they faced every run, whereas some of the kids that really raced hard just didn't think about that stuff. A later coach told me that although she was a good skier she seemed to have an "internal speed governor" that she might not ever be able to release. Basically kind of the same remark. She didn't like hearing those remarks one bit and disagreed with the assessment, but I think they may have been true, since she never had the injuries that her teammates did.

All of this injury stuff has really become personalized after my collision with the tree. When you ski for 35 years unscathed, I think the idea that it may still happen to YOU is forgotten.

Anyway, I feel for this girl and her family. I understand the desire to return to the sport in spite of the injury as well.

 

[Native Vail Gal]

What an AMAZING story! Thank you so much for sharing this inspirational woman's story!

It has truly touched me!