Tedy’s Team started in 2005, after Tedy Bruschi suffered a stroke at the age of 31. Tedy was in the prime of his life, he had just won his 3rd Super Bowl as a member of the New England Patriots and just returned from his first Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
Tedy and his wife, Heidi, did not know the warning signs of stroke and were unaware his symptoms were stroke related. During his recovery, Tedy and Heidi approached the American Stroke Association to support them in their creation of Tedy’s Team.
When Tedy’s Team was created, the main goal was to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke, and to break the stigma of who can have a stroke. Then it grew to an endurance training team when Tedy was able to secure five bibs from the Boston Athletic Association for the Boston Marathon as a member of their charity program. The focus of the team was still awareness, but through the running team, Tedy’s Team helped to fund life-saving research.
Fast Forward 13 years, over 1,500 alumni, numerous travel marathons, Falmouth Road Races and Boston Marathons, and Tedy’s Team has raised over $5 million to support the American Stroke Association and help reduce deaths from stroke. Since Tedy’s Team was created, stroke has gone from the nation’s No. 3 killer to No. 5. While there is still more work to be done, we can see the impact of what we do on a daily basis.
Moving into 2019, Tedy’s Team is working to create a community outreach program that will help give survivors the means for a comeback. If Tedy can have his comeback, so can you!
Always remember the warning signs of stroke: B.E. F.A.S.T.: Balance Difficulties, Eyesight Changes, Face Drooping, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficulty all equal Time to call 9-1-1.