For the past 16 months, Lorraine Truong has been fighting to live with the limitations, daily pain and discomfort from multiple brain injuries sustained while riding and racing her bike. It has changed her life beyond recognition, where even simple tasks are now a huge challenge. She needs our help.
Although Lorraine has received good medical support in Switzerland, there’s no quick fix and knowledge of treatments for brain injuries is still in its early stages. To try to find solutions Lorraine hopes to travel to the USA where more advanced treatments are available, which could help with her recovery. However, treatment like this is not covered by her medical insurance and can be very expensive.
Lorraine's friends want to raise funds to take away the day-to-day worry of these costs for Lorraine and ultimately help to get her life back and hopefully one day to get back on her bike.
They have secured massive support from the industry and many riders to offer every person who donates to Lorraine’s Recovery Fund an opportunity to win some amazing prizes. For every 10€ you donate you will be entered into the prize draw – so the more you give the better your chances of winning one of these amazing prizes.
For those who don’t know Lorraine here is an introduction from multiple world DH and Enduro World Champion Tracy Moseley:
“Lorraine Truong burst onto the Enduro World Series race scene in 2013. Her flamboyant style on the bike caught my attention straight away. For someone so small, she could throw her bike around and had a lot more style than most of us girls out there! She just looked good on her bike, maybe not always in control but always having maximum fun!
Lorraine just loved riding her bike, and the freedom and feelings that it gave her. Having come from an XC background, she already had steely determination and mental strength and was quickly making a mark on the Enduro World Series rankings. U23 Swiss XC Champion in 2011 then straight into the top 10 at the first ever EWS race in 2013.
Lorraine continued to improve at Enduro, never finishing out of the top 10 in 2014, and at the same time she was starting to have a go at a few downhill races!
I really got to know Lorraine in 2014 and seeing a real potential in her I wanted to try and help her get onto the EWS podium in 2015. I began to help her with her training and trying to be a good mentor to her. Sadly Lorraine’s love for jumping, going fast and just generally pushing her limits often ended in crashing!
We all know that crashing is part of the game and a risk we take. Normally a bit of time for broken bones to recover and then we are back out there, pushing the limits again and again! Lorraine had quite a number of hits to her head during the last 2/3 years and in July 2015 at an EWS race in France, another blow to the head was one hit too many.
I would love you as the MTB community, to get behind Lorraine and help support her in her journey to recovery…. We need to raise 25'000CHF (23’300€) to pay for her treatment.
We have secured massive support from the industry and many riders to offer every person who donates to Lorraine’s Recovery Fund and opportunity to win some amazing prizes.
Here is how you can help.:
Every 10CHF you donate covers 2 minutes of this life changing treatment and as a thank you, you will get entered into the prize draw – so the more you give, the more treatment for Lorraine and the better your chances of winning one of these amazing prizes...
Together with Lorraine, I would like to thank all the kind donors to the raffle…Good Luck !"
DONATE HEREFor only 10CHF you could win one of many prizes including a BMC Speedfox Trailcrew bike, a Bike Verbier holiday in Switzerland or a day riding with the amazing T-MO in the UK.
As well as the chance to win amazing prizes you will be helping support Lorraine Truong in her journey to recovery and her desire to raise awareness about Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and concussions.
This is what you can win:
1x Week of holiday in the Swiss Alps with Bikeverbier.com
1x BMC Speedfox Trailcrew full bike (size S), mounted with Team components
1x Day of riding with Tracy Moseley
1x Fox fork 36
1x Pair of DZR Mamba shoes (size of your choice)
1x Pair of DZR Minna shoes (size of your choice)
1x Pair of DZR Jetlag shoes (size of your choice)
1x Pocket Rocket BMC kit (short and jersey)
1x Fizik Monte Saddle
1x Giro Cipher helmet
1x Giro All Mountain helmet
1x Isostar food package
1x entry for the Enduro World Series round in Finale Ligure
1x V8 Equipment FRD 20.1 backpack (teal)
1x V8 Equipment EXP 110.1 travel bag
You may also get the signed jersey of one of these riders:
Sam Hill, Tracy Moseley, Jérôme Clementz, Lewis Buchanan, Greg Callaghan, Jill Kitner, Bernard Kerr, Manon Carpenter, François Bailly-Maître, Ludo May, Nico Vouilloz, Damien Oton, Iago Garay, Bryan Regnier, Anita & Caro Gehrig, Marco Osborne, Anneke Berteen, Rachel Atherton, Casey Brown, Jared Graves, Cécile Ravanel, Rae Morrison, Mark Scott, Katy Winton, Brendan Fairclough, Emilie Siegenthaler, Katy Curd, Justin Leov, Kerstin Kögler, Hannah Barnes, Anka Martin, Steve Peat (signed book and DVD) or from the whole BMC MTB Racing Team.
Also for every one of you who donates 50CHF or over, Lorraine will send you a
#myBrainmyRules t-shirt to help raise awareness and get us talking about Brain Injuries.
DONATE HEREWhen you donate 100% of what you give goes to Lorraine’s recovery. Every 10CHF you donate covers 2 minutes of functional neurology treatment.
Let’s help relaunch the Pocket Rocket!
You can find out more about Lorraine, her racing career, her journey and her experiences as a brain injured rider on her website:
www.lorrainetruong.ch.
How many times have you gone on rides not being 100%?
That being said, more has to be done in MTB and other action sports to prevent and educate about this, in pros and regular riders as well.
Certainly no blame goes to her, I think it was irresponsible of the team and people around her. like I mentioned, teams I have played on have always had tests and always pull players after a big hit to evaluate them, and take the proper safety measures after. If these teams of young kids can do this, why was her team not?
There doesnt need to be a public inquiry every time a concussion is missed, blaming somebody doesnt solve the problem, raising awareness does.
A lot of teams don't have budget for medical staff. Yes, you have been fortunate with your back ground in those sports. I think it is easier in team sports rather than individual sports to keep an eye on athletes.
I was there, I didn't make her go to hospital, I live with that everyday when I see or speak with her.
That being said I agree with you about the awareness issue, and we also need a change in mindset towards the issue, we can't keep going around saying don't be a p*ssy and ride when it comes to head injuries.
@kbonesddeuce: interesting, how recently was that? I've never seen that mentality on any team I have played on when I comes to head injuries. Even my friends who played much higher levels of soccer/football etc. told me that there was never that kind of attitude(when it came to the head).
@bluumax: doesn't matter, my point was that it should have been stopped far before. It has nothing to do with diagnosing a complex head injury, because she should have never been allowed to get to that point. Granted I don't know the ins and outs of her program but I've gotta think that there was someone who could have taken her to the hospital after, where they could have given her proper guidance (ex: you got a concussion don't ride for x months). My comment wasn't to blame anyone or make someone feel bad, if anything It's creating a conversation
No one is looking out for athletes but themselves. If you choose this path you have to be smart and know how to take care of yourself. Know when to push and when to pull back. I feel for her, i really do. It will be a difficult and long road but she can get there. I have battled it and I now have a successful engineering career.
Or maybe the people who will win those prizes can sell them and give the money back to her through this fundraiser?
Anyway that's a good initiative for her... Good to communicate on that!!!
www.pinkbike.com/news/a-day-in-the-life-of-lorraine-truong-bmc-2015.html
She was such active girl, pursuing her dreams, example for many and now she barely can do something.
I hope you will get well soon Lorraine!
This modern age of asking the world to fund ones own problems is quite interesting.
Her sponsors should pay up maybe?
Although it's a bit late, this sport is dangerous and being reckless, as it seems she has a nature for, comes with a cost that needs to be considered more heavily.
Everybody who wants to throw money at this cute girl could consider their own communities and friends and family that are going through the very same thing?
Thank you so much for you generosity. Lorraine flew to Atlanta on Sunday, November 20th for a functional neurology rehab, and this is thanks to you!!!
The raffle will take place in January, so good luck :-)
Thanks also for your touching messages which bring her a lot of comfort and support.
"We'll keep you up to date on her situation.
Once again, a HUGE THANK YOU!
Team myBrainmyRules
PS : If you donated 50 CHF or more and you wish to have a T-shirt, please send us an email with the following information (if it’s not already done) : gender, color, size and your postal address."
also, look at this article on her for more backstory:
'A bit of bad luck maybe, like when my BMX frame broke when landing a jump and sent me head first in the next double. Probably also my riding style – I love to be high on my bike and to play with the terrain – combined with my tiny size – such that my bike is quite heavy relatively to my weight and force – and my love for risks. And definitely because the more you hit your head without giving your brain time to heal, the more sensitive it becomes.'
We ALL ride like that from time to time, high on our bikes playing with the terrain.
www.descent-world.co.uk/2016/08/23/a-letter-from-lorraine-truong
niether system is perfect. it is man made thus imperfect and I have been made to suffer in both systems despite cash etc. but that is not the case. the case is the life of a young ambitious person that had everything good going for her and now has to hide in a dark room as anything in life becomes painful noise.
maybe you spend a few $ and help and who knows maybe as a result healthcare etc becomes better for all.at least we helped one person rather complaining about inequalities or the wrong politician. man up
What about the numerous young thrashers that need help? Why is just this one person singled out? Someone has friends in high places on pinkbike.coms management team.