Ray is available for speaking engagements and welcomes questions
Phone 315-585-0001 or email SecondImpactMail@yahoo.com
Talks and appearances are free of charge
Mission
Ray’s mission is to tell his story of the mistakes he made by not addressing a concussion properly and the consequences he suffered as a result. If a concussion is treated properly, no athlete should have to endure the life-altering ramifications Ray faces today. Student athletes need to be honest about any symptoms with coaching staff and trainers and not hide a concussion with the thoughts of playing through it. Ray hopes, through his talks, that student athletes will understand the importance of addressing a concussion correctly and promptly. He encourages student athletes to be honest with symptoms and advocates following school or sport program protocols and doctor’s orders to ensure a safe return to play.
He was a well-behaved honor student until his junior year of high school. He suffered a concussion, ignored the symptoms and unfortunately received another concussion one week later; it came before the initial symptoms cleared up. That’s when his world changed and he began failing school courses. He started sleeping excessively, was unable to concentrate, saw changes in his behavior and felt like he was in a “fog”. Through his story, he emphasizes how important it was to address the first concussion properly and he would have never had the other complications he suffers today. This is avoidable and education is the key. When student athletes see if first hand from someone who has suffered the consequences, it resonates. He wants student athletes to reach their full potential and enjoy a good quality of life.
Speaking Engagements
- Talks generally last 25 minutes. Optional question and answer sessions can follow upon request. Ray is on no time restrictions. He will stay until the last voice is heard.
- Talks are free of charge; there is no cost or travel restrictions/limitations
- Talks are open to any audience. Ray is available to speak to any age group, including but not limited to
- School Assemblies
- Team and Sport specific assemblies
- Parent/student athlete meetings
- Sport Clubs, recreational teams
- Youth sport Teams
- Each talk is tailored to fit the age level
- There is no clinical medical advice. Medical questions are referred to the school doctors or nurses
- Ray does not sell nor endorse any products
- Topics do include:
- Concussion and Second Impact type injuries
- Why athletes hide concussions
- Challenging concussions
- The adrenaline Factor
- Peer pressure
- Honesty about a head injury and notifying someone immediately
- The importance of following school policy and concussion protocols
- The importance of being symptom free before returning to play
- The baseline test
- Being a good role model
- First hand experiences to support his cause
- Short term and long term effects of neglecting or not taking seriously a head injury
- Life Altering consequences and disorders that he lives with as a result of challenging a concussion
- Ray tells “his story” and uses first hand experiences
Key Note Speaker
2013 Brain Injury Association of NYS (BIANYS) Convention, Albany N.Y.
2103 New York State Athletic Trainers' Association (NYSATA) Convention, Jamestown, N.Y.
2012 Hickock Center for Brain Injury, Rochester, N.Y.
Camp/Clinic Featured Speaker
2012 and 2013 NFL High School Player Development Camp- Lyons High School, Lyons, NY
High School Teams participating: Lyons, Clyde-Savannah, Geneva, Newark, Trumansburg, Port Byron, DeSales, Dundee, Marcus Whitman, Aquinas Institute, Union Springs, South Seneca, Mynderse Academy, Penn Yan, Waterloo, Fairport
2013 NFL High School Player Development Camp, Elmira Notre Dame HS, Elmira, NY
High School teams participating: Elmira Free Academy, Southside, Horseheads, Thomas A. Edison, Elmira Notre Dame, Maine Endwell, Johnson City, Newfield, Corning East, Corning West, Waverly
2012 Tony Collins Foundation Football and Cheerleading Camp; Penn Yan Academy
2012 NFL High School Player Development Camp- Wayne High School, Ontario, NY
High School Teams participating: Wayne, Greece Arcadia, Greece Olympia, East High, Brighton, Midlakes, Penfield
Finger Lakes Youth Football and Cheerleading League
Bloomfield Steelers, Clyde-Savannah Eagles, Dundee Jr. Scots, Gananda Panthers, Geneva Panthers, Honeoye Falls Lima Cougars, Jordan-Elbridge Eagles, Jr. Lions Lyons, Marcus Whitman Wildcats, Midlakes Jr. Eagles, Newark Jr. Reds, Pal-Mac Raiders, Penn Yan Mustangs, Red Jacket Indians, Seneca Falls Blue Devils, East Rochester Bombers, Waterloo Indians, Wayne Eagles.
New York Collegiate Baseball Teams (NYCBL)
Hornell Dodgers, Niagara Power, Wellsville Nitros, Adirondack Trailblazers, Geneva Red Wings, Geneva Twins, Sherrill Silversmiths, Syracuse Jr Chiefs, Syracuse Salt Cats, Utica Brewers, Alfred Thunder, Webster Yankees, Olean Oilers, Oneonta Outlaws
High School and College Appearances
(short list, not inclusive)
| Hobart College Football Team | Wayne High School | Finger Lakes Community College |
| Mynderse Academy High School | South Seneca High School | Romulus High School |
| DeSales High School | Red Jacket High School |
Newark High School |
| Lyons High School | Livonia High School | Dansville High School |
| Hornell High School | Canisteo-Greenwood CSD |
East High School, Rochester |
| Aquinas Institute, Rochester |
Port Byron High School |
Waterloo High School |
| Geneva High School | Keuka College | Union Springs High School |
| Cato-Meridian High School | University of Rochester | Ithaca College |
| Hilbert College | Naples High School | Syracuse University |
| Elmira Notre Dame High School | North Rockland High School | |
