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Charity Hendricks and her daughter, Brisa, will walk in "Walk for Thought" Sept. 24 at CentraCare Health Plaza.

 Organizers are still seeking pledges and/or sponsorships for the "Walk for Thought," which will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at CentraCare Health Plaza.

Walk for Thought is a fundraising event for the Minnesota Brain Injury Association. The 10th annual walk is one of four that will occur that day in Minnesota, the other three walk-site cities being Duluth, Rochester and St. Paul. TV newsman Don Shelby will lead the St. Paul Walk for Thought.

Charity Hendricks of Sartell, a member of the Central Minnesota Brain Injury Association, has been contacting businesses throughout the area, including Sartell, trying to enlist support for the walk.

Hendrick's heart is very much with the good cause because she herself suffered a traumatic brain injury when another vehicle collided with her car 13 years ago in the Twin Cities area. She endured years of therapy, and her life became filled with hurdles of all sorts in the years since the accident. She and her daughter, 6-year-old Brisa, will take part in the Walk for Thought. Their fundraising team is called "Charity's Grrrls." The team's other member is Jean Johnson of St. Cloud, an adult who also suffered a traumatic brain injury.

"It's hard to find sponsors, harder than in previous years because of the state of the economy," Hendricks said. "We've lost some sponsors from last year. We hope we can regain plenty of support because it is so important to raise awareness and help fund research for brain injuries. They are so much more common than most people think. And they can happen to anybody."

Awareness, Charity said, pays off. As of Sept. 1, a new Minnesota law went into effect. It's called the "Return to Play" bill, and it requires any students who suffer concussions at play or in sports to receive medical permission before they are allowed to join physical play again. Research has shown too many children resume play before their concussions have had a chance to heal. Hendricks is among those who testified at the Minnesota Legislature on behalf of the "Return to Play" law. It is, she said, one example of why raising public awareness of brain-injury issues is so important.

Those who participate in Walk for Thought will walk twice around CentraCare Health Plaza, which is located in St. Cloud just across from Sartell's southern border.

To donate to Walk for Thought or to become a sponsor, go to the following website www.braininjurymn.org, click on Walk for Thought, then click on "St. Cloud" and go from there.

One can also call the Brain Injury Association toll-free at 1-800-669-6442.