BOSTON — 400 guests attended the 11th annual Concussion Legacy Gala to raise money for the Concussion Legacy Foundation, which was held on Oct. 25, 2018 at the InterContinental Boston hotel. The CLF’s founders, Chris Nowinski and Dr. Robert Cantu, were on-hand as the event honored Pro Football Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti and his wife, Lynn, and NFL All-Star Eric Lindros for their work on behalf of concussion research.
Also attending were event emcee Mike Adamle, pro football writer Lesley Visser, and professional wrestler Triple H.
About the honorees:
Eric Lindros was the first overall pick in the 1991 NHL Draft and a six-time NHL All-Star before his Hockey Hall of Fame career was cut short due to concussions. Lindros is considered to have done more to advance concussion research, education, and prevention than any living sports legend. On the day he retired, Lindros made a personal $5 million donation to concussion research, the largest gift ever by a professional athlete. He has challenged the NHL, which thus far has refused to fund concussion research, to contribute $1 million from each NHL team.
Lindros is the force behind Rowan’s Law, named after CLF Legacy Donor Rowan Stringer, who died of second-impact syndrome. Rowan’s Law, which became law in March in Ontario, Canada, is the first law to require appropriate concussion management in Canada and is expected to be adopted by all provinces. Lindros serves as an Ambassador for Team Up Speak Up, CLF’s innovative concussion education program focused on activating teammates in identifying concussions.
“Eric Lindros has passionately devoted his time, his money, and his voice to making the game of hockey and all sports safer, especially for the youth athletes who are most vulnerable,” said CLF co-founder and medical director Dr. Robert Cantu. “There is no better example of an athlete giving back to his sport than Eric Lindros.”
Nick Buoniconti and his wife Lynn Buoniconti are tirelessly fighting to advance CTE research. Nick, 77, had a Hall of Fame career as a middle linebacker for the Boston Patriots and Miami Dolphins, and captained the undefeated 1972 Dolphins. In 2017, the Buonicontis bravely went public with Nick’s diagnosis of dementia, which the world’s CTE experts who have treated Nick believe it is due to CTE. Buoniconti has pledged his brain to the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank, led by Dr. Ann McKee, and with Lynn, launched the Nick & Lynn Buoniconti CTE Research Fund at the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
“We are proud to honor Nick and Lynn Buoniconti, who have courageously fought Nick’s diagnosis with dignity and grace, and who are now doing so much to raise awareness and funding for CTE research,” said CLF co-founder and CEO Chris Nowinski, Ph.D.
All photos by Bill Brett
