Turning Experience into Impact

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Black men in the U.S., with 63 percent of Black men having some form of cardiovascular disease.

In 2017, Jason Russell had firsthand experience with those statistics. He was sitting at his desk at work when he experienced a stroke and a ruptured brain aneurysm.

Jason spent three weeks at Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for a brain bleed in addition to the stroke and aneurysm. “I’ve been an advocate since then,” he says.

In fact, his advocacy started four years earlier. In 2013, Jason and a friend co-founded Black Men Run, a national movement dedicated to improving the health and wellness of Black men through running, brotherhood, and community.

Their reason for starting the group was simple: they want other Black men to get—and stay—healthy. “Running is a great way to improve heart health and develop camaraderie with fellow runners,” Jason says. “I wanted to create an organization where Black men could train together but also have an avenue to fellowship.”

Today, Black Men Run has 56 chapters in 27 states and Washington, D.C., and has additional chapters in London, Paris, and Okinawa as well.

While Jason knew the statistics about heart disease and stroke among Black men, he didn’t realize that a stroke is also a type of brain injury. It’s why he’s using his platform to support the Brain Injury Association of America as a Luminary of the Year Fundraising Champion.

“I survived for a reason,” Jason says. “Now I have an opportunity to use my journey, my voice, and my platform to help make the road a little easier for the next person and their family.”

Want to support Jason’s fundraising efforts? Contribute to his Luminary of the Year page here.