WVU CED partners with MoCrazy Strong Foundation and others to host award-winning documentary about professional skier who suffered a traumatic brain injury

Alive to Thrive Day happens February 27-28 at Canaan Valley Resort

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

The West Virginia Traumatic Brain Injury Services program at the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities is partnering with the MoCrazy Strong Foundation and the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia to host a screening of “#MoCrazyStrong”, an award-winning documentary about professional skier and traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivor Jamie MoCrazy.

The documentary will be screened at 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2025 as part of Alive to Thrive Day, which takes place on February 27-28 at Canaan Valley Resort in Tucker County. A keynote from Jamie MoCrazy, a panel discussion about TBI recovery, and a meet and greet social will follow the screening. Adaptive skiing and snowboarding opportunities with Jamie will be available during both days of the event for West Virginians with a TBI.

“#MoCrazyStrong” follows Jamie’s journey through TBI recovery after she acquired a near-fatal brain injury while competing at World Tour Finals. Her inspiring story helped revolutionize early stage TBI treatment and change protocol surrounding family involvement. The documentary interviews Jamie’s ICU neuro doctor, the first responder who intubated Jamie on the mountain at the scene of her accident, and a family that has received peer-to-peer guidance from the MoCrazy Strong team.

“My dramatic experience of going from a professional skier to lying in a coma gave me and my family a giant mountain to climb over the multi-year process of healing and creating a new identity,” said Jamie MoCrazy.

“One of the strongest factors in my recovery was the belief that I could create a life I loved after my brain injury. We are so excited and honored to be partnering with the WV TBI Services program to bring Alive to Thrive Day to Canaan Valley Resort in February. We want to provide an opportunity for TBI survivors to accomplish something they thought was impossible, while raising awareness about how common TBIs are and how advancements in treatment allow TBI survivors to live amazing lives and give back to society.”

Registration is free for West Virginians with a documented TBI, their caregivers and families. There is also general admission for the public, as well as an opportunity for professionals to attend and receive CEUs for PT/PTA, OT and Social Work for attending the film screening and panel discussion portions of the event.

The TBI Services program at the WVU CED is proud to serve as the state’s designated lead agency for the coordination of services for West Virginians with TBI. Types of services offered include resource facilitation, coordination of neuropsychological evaluations, access to financial assistance, client and caregiver support groups and more. All services are free for West Virginians with a documented TBI.

“The WV TBI Services program is thrilled to work with the MoCrazy Strong Foundation and Challenged Athletes of West Virginia to bring Alive to Thrive to our state,” said Cortland Nesley, WV TBI Services Program Manager

“One of the most common and difficult challenges for those with a TBI is the intrusive belief that once joyful activities and experiences will be out of reach forever — wrestling with thoughts that their mind is now ‘broken’ or ‘deficient’. This event aims to show this is not the case. Jamie’s story demonstrates the importance of a robust continuum of care and proper resource coordination. With the right support and accommodation, anybody can get up on that mountain and enjoy themselves. Life is not over after a TBI.”

-WVU-

CONTACT: Melina Danko
Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities
304-293-4265; mdanko@hsc.wvu.edu