Cross-Country TBI Ride to Victory Supports Kessler Foundation

On March 30th, Daniel Mollino kicked off his cross-country journey on his bicycle to bring awareness to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and raise funds for Kessler Foundation. He began his ride, known as 'TBI to Victory,' at Kessler's West Orange campus.

“Riding cross-country was a goal I had before my injury,” said Mollino. “Now, I’m regaining the life I once had. This ride shows what is possible after a traumatic brain injury and raises awareness of survivors. It’s also a way to give back and say ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped me in my recovery. That’s why I’m asking people to donate to Kessler Foundation, so that researchers can make more advances that improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.”

In 2010, Mollino sustained a TBI after falling 20 feet while working on a telephone pole. He wasn't expected to survive. As he awoke from an induced coma, he was transferred to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation where he relearned to talk, eat, walk, and read. Despite his advances, medical professionals expected Mollino's decreased balance and coordination to prevent him from returning to his passion of riding his bicycle.

With an exercise bike in his living room and therapeutic horseback riding classes, Mollino returned to the road. As a testament to his progress, in September 2014, he and his wife, Amber, rode their bicycles from their Ringwood home to the starting line of Kessler Foundation's 13th Annual Stroll 'N Roll at Verona Park—a 25 mile ride.

While Mollino continues to experience double vision, loss of hearing, pain, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating, riding gives him a sense of peace. The pain and ringing in his ears disappear.

Traveling alone, with 30 pounds of luggage strapped to his bicycle, he has made his way from New Jersey, to Pennsylvania, to Ohio. Although he has hit some rough weather—sleet, snow, heavy winds and rain—Dan’s perseverance continues. He is determined to complete the 3,650 miles journey to San Francisco.

“We wish Dan the best of luck in his ride across country and thank him for encouraging others to donate to Kessler Foundation,” said Rodger DeRose, president and chief executive officer of Kessler Foundation. “Dan is an inspiration for people with brain injury. His message is clear – with hard work and determination and skilled rehabilitation, recovery is possible. By supporting our research, more discoveries will be made to improve quality of life and increase independence after brain injury."

Mollino serves on Kessler Foundation’s TBI Advisory Board, helping identify the issues that matter most to individuals with brain injury and how our research can improve lives.

View coverage of his kick-off event at Kessler on NJTV, NJ.com and NorthJersey.com.