LEADING CAUSES OF CRASHES RELATE TO SPEED, IMPAIRMENT AND DISTRACTED DRIVING. CONCERNS OVER CONCUSSIONS IN FOOTBALL HAVE GROWN, WITH STUDIES HIGHLIGHTING POTENTIAL SERIOUS LONG-TERM HEALTH RISKS. TONIGHT – ONE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR FROM BANGOR IS TAKING ACTION BY PLEDGING TO DONATE HIS BRAIN FOR RESEARCH TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN THE SPORT. CONNOR CLEMENT SAT DOWN WITH HIM TO TALK ABOUT HIS DECISION. LONG AFTER HIS PLAYING DAYS ARE OVER, FIONN PARKER- CUMMINGS HOPES TO MAKE A LASTING, GAME-CHANGING IMPACT ON THE GAME HE LOVES.. 21:54:36-21:54:44 WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP THE FOOTBALL COMMUNITY PROGRESS IN SCIENCE AND BE SAFER? AND IT CAME TO MY MIND ONE DAY, I WAS LIKE MAYBE I SHOULD JUST DONATE MY BRAIN. THAT’S EXACLTY WHAT FIONN HAS PLEDGED TO DO.. WHEN HE DIES, HIS BRAIN WILL GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH’S NATIONAL SPORTS BRAIN BANK.. HE’S THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT. 21:53:22-21:53:29 I’VE HAD MY FAIR SHARE OF CONCUSSIONS AND I’D JUST LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT PEOPLE’S AND CLARIFY SOME SCIENCE AROUND IT. HE HOPES THIS DONATION WILL ADVANCE THE UNIVERSITY’S RESEARCH ON TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES, WITH THE GOAL OF PROTECTING FUTURE PLAYERS- FROM KIDS LIKE HIMSELF TO PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES LIKE PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK DRAKE MAYE, WHO RECENTLY SUFFERED A CONCUSSION. 21:56:33-21:56:46 IF I CAN HELP PREVENT THAT AND MAKE SURE A LITTLE KID WHOSE JUST DISCOVERING FOOTBALL CAN PICK UP A HELMET PUT IT ON AND BE SAFE AND PLAY AND LOVE IT AND MAYBE ONE DAY HAVE A CHANCE TO PLAY IN COLLEGE OR THE NFL, I WOULD 100% LOVE TO DO THAT. FIONN’S FAMILY FULLY SUPPORTS HIS DECISION. HIS FATHER, A NEUROSCIENTIST, UNDERSTANDS BETTER THAN MOST THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FIONN’S CHOICE. 22:04:34-22:04:52 HE’S ALWAYS BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND AN ACTIVIST FOR THE SPORT AND FOR PROMOTING SAFETY AND FIGHTING AGAINST THESE TACKLE FOOTBALL BANS, SO IT SEEMED SURPRISING TO HAVE SOMEONE MAKE THAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT, BUT NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE HE’S BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SPORT FOR SO LONG. FIONN WILL UNDERGO YEARLY EVALUATIONS WITH THE NATIONAL SPORTS BRAIN BANK FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, A SPOKESPERSON SAID THEY’RE DEEPLY THANKFUL FOR FIONN’S SELFLESS PLEDGE AND SAID IT WILL BRING MORE ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE AND WI

Advertisement

High school football player pledges to donate brain to science to help improve game safety

Updated: 2:25 PM EDT Nov 1, 2024

Long after his playing days are over, Fionn Parker-Cummings, a senior at Bangor High School in Bangor, Maine, hopes to leave a lasting impact on the sport he loves, making football safer for future generations.The high school wide receiver and cornerback has pledged to donate his brain to the University of Pittsburgh’s National Sports Brain Bank, becoming the youngest person to make such a commitment.”I thought, ‘What can I do to help the football community progress in science and be safer?'” Parker-Cummings said. “And it came to me one day: maybe I should just donate my brain.”Having experienced multiple concussions, Parker-Cummings wants to contribute to research that could protect athletes at all levels, from children just picking up a helmet to professionals facing head injury risks on the field.”I’d like to help clarify some science around this,” he said. “If I can prevent injuries, even for a kid just discovering football, it would mean everything.”His father, Dr. Peter Cummings is a neuroscientist and is proud of his son’s decision and supportive of his commitment. “He’s always been active in promoting safety and fighting against tackle football bans,” Dr. Cummings said. “It’s a big commitment, but not surprising given his passion for the sport.”As part of his donation, Parker-Cummings will undergo annual evaluations with the National Sports Brain Bank, which aims to advance research on traumatic brain injuries. A spokesperson for the organization expressed deep gratitude, saying Parker-Cummings’ pledge could bring crucial attention to the issue and inspire others to consider similar donations.“The National Sports Brain Bank is deeply thankful for this selfless pledge. This is no small act, as Fionn will undergo yearly evaluations while contributing significantly to the still-nascent science of studying neurodegenerative brain injuries among athletes of all types. While most of our donors prefer to remain anonymous, this high-school senior – the youngest donor to our Brain Bank thus far – will undoubtedly bring more attention and visibility to this issue and will hopefully spur others to consider similar pledges.”

BANGOR, Maine —

Long after his playing days are over, Fionn Parker-Cummings, a senior at Bangor High School in Bangor, Maine, hopes to leave a lasting impact on the sport he loves, making football safer for future generations.

The high school wide receiver and cornerback has pledged to donate his brain to the University of Pittsburgh’s National Sports Brain Bank, becoming the youngest person to make such a commitment.

Advertisement

“I thought, ‘What can I do to help the football community progress in science and be safer?'” Parker-Cummings said. “And it came to me one day: maybe I should just donate my brain.”

Having experienced multiple concussions, Parker-Cummings wants to contribute to research that could protect athletes at all levels, from children just picking up a helmet to professionals facing head injury risks on the field.

“I’d like to help clarify some science around this,” he said. “If I can prevent injuries, even for a kid just discovering football, it would mean everything.”

His father, Dr. Peter Cummings is a neuroscientist and is proud of his son’s decision and supportive of his commitment. “He’s always been active in promoting safety and fighting against tackle football bans,” Dr. Cummings said. “It’s a big commitment, but not surprising given his passion for the sport.”

As part of his donation, Parker-Cummings will undergo annual evaluations with the National Sports Brain Bank, which aims to advance research on traumatic brain injuries. A spokesperson for the organization expressed deep gratitude, saying Parker-Cummings’ pledge could bring crucial attention to the issue and inspire others to consider similar donations.

“The National Sports Brain Bank is deeply thankful for this selfless pledge. This is no small act, as Fionn will undergo yearly evaluations while contributing significantly to the still-nascent science of studying neurodegenerative brain injuries among athletes of all types. While most of our donors prefer to remain anonymous, this high-school senior – the youngest donor to our Brain Bank thus far – will undoubtedly bring more attention and visibility to this issue and will hopefully spur others to consider similar pledges.”

Source