The People Behind the Purpose
We are a team working toward achieving Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness and offering assistance to survivors and their families
A letter from the TBIF4L President
Hello,
On behalf of our TBI Fight for Life Team, we are deeply grateful to extend a little outreach for your journey. Our team has been blessed with significant support from many people who believe in our mission- “Spread traumatic brain injury awareness across the world to inspire, empower, and educate while bridging gaps to understand daily life struggles.”
Like you, my life took a significant turn when my son, Dalton sustained a traumatic brain injury. In this journey the losses were countless, and the energy to dig deep to keep moving forward was exhausting. Feeling alone and lost while wearing me down and not to mention the new normal was constantly reminding me that life can change in an instant.
While feeling alone and lost, I knew there was something to come out of this horrific experience. At the time I didn’t know what it was. However, the feeling didn’t go away and I trusted myself to keep holding on. Then it occurred to me, how about starting a nonprofit organization to help others in this journey.
September, 2019 a small group of us met. We had ideas, and were on fire but also weren’t sure what direction to take. There is a lot of ground to cover. We made a list of ideas to spread awareness and how to assist families. Since the birth of our team, we have grown from 10 volunteers to 16 volunteers and growing.
In the 6 years of our existence we have been able to host annual pool tournaments with fundraising opportunities, gift wrapping at local Fleet Farm, vendor opportunities at local festivals, public speaking opportunities for the Brain Injury Alliance of WI, local Rotary, Chamber Board meetings, Party at the PAC put on by Theda Care, countless referrals from hospitals asking for our mentorship services, annual entry in the annual New Dublin (New London) Parade, countless sponsorships to families, Christmas gifts for
veterans with TBI’s at the Veteran’s Home in Waupaca, ID tags for TBI survivors (over 350 tags mailed world wide), publication of my son’s story in the American Association of Nurses Organization Medical Journal, and our newest and largest event- Rock’n Corn Festival. This is a large 1 day music festival held in New London. Proceeds from all of our events allow us to sponsor and extend a little help to families and their survivors.
Please know, you are not alone and I am available for mentorship if you would like to reach out. Just having someone to talk with, can also help lessen the feeling of being alone.
Sincerely and stay TBI Strong,
April Lackowski- President and Founder
April Lackowski
Founder & Director
Our Executive Board
Vice President
Jill Meyer
I joined the TBI Fight For Life team to give back to the people who stood by me during one of the scariest moments of my life. After my traumatic brain injury, April’s compassion and reassurance helped me understand what I was experiencing and reminded me that I could get through it. Being part of this team feels like being among kindred spirits—we share a deep love for service, purpose, and lifting others up. As a Leo, this work gives me the kind of meaningful pride that fuels me. I’m proud to serve as the team’s Vice President and even more proud to be a survivor with a second chance that I refuse to waste. The universe brought me to this mission. Fun facts: I’ve spent over 35 years in the medical coding field, traded in my motorcycle for a Jeep, and I absolutely love traveling with the friends and family who mean everything to me
Alyssa Gullixon
Treasurer
I am proud to be part of the Traumatic Brain Injury Fight for Life team to raise awareness and support for those impacted by brain injury. This team means so much to me because of the strength, compassion, and sense of community we share as we fight together. I’ve been an educator for over 30 years, enjoy riding motorcycles, and love my new Staffordshire rescue pup, Larry. I’m married to my best friend, Eric, and am a proud mom to my daughter Izzy, a college graduate who is now engaged.
Secretary
Willow Fast Horse
I joined the TBI Fight for Life team after a family member experienced a life-changing TBI, and I saw the community and support it helped to provide. I love how compassionate and generous the team is, and how the team directly supports families affected by traumatic brain injuries and spreads awareness in the area. The team plays to the strengths of it's members, which helps the volunteer work to be impactful and sustainable. I highly encourage anyone interested in joining the team or volunteering to reach out to the team! I'm a Medical Coder, I enjoy going to the gym and a variety of arts & crafts. Recently I've been sewing and experimenting with Linocut art. My husband Avery and I recently adopted two kitties, Pepper and Julius
Our Approach
The Traumatic Brain Injury Fight for Life (TBI F4L) Team is a volunteer-run Nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those in the community affected by a TBI and spreading awareness
Mentorship
We offer tiered peer mentorships free of charge for families affected and Survivors of TBIs
Education
We provide education and awareness through our socials and events
Local Events
We fundraise and attend local events to get the conversation going about TBIs and fundraise for our efforts to support local families affected by TBIs