The Ashlyn Dyer Foundation

One of the sponsors of the Presidio 10 Race is the Ashlyn Dyer Foundation. I didn't know about this foundation before running the race, but after learning about it I was compelled to research it and learn more.

Ashlyn Dyer:

On March 2, 2006, Ashlyn Dyer (27 years old) was the victim of a hit and run accident while running through the Presidio in San Francisco. Tragically, Ashlyn passed away 10 days later as a result of her severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

This is from an article on SFGate.com:

Sometime between 6:45 and 7 a.m., police say, a car sped southbound around a curve on Washington and struck Dyer, catapulting her over a fence and into a ditch. She lay there, face-down and unconscious, until a park worker found her around 7 a.m.

Although she was listening to her iPod, police believe she heard the car and turned around before she was hit. That's because even though the car approached from behind, she was struck on her right side, as if she had been facing the vehicle.

Police estimated that the driver was going faster than the 25 mph speed limit and said there were no skid marks or other evidence that the car had braked.

Ashlyn Dyer Foundation:

The foundation that has been established in her name has worked to improve the resources and research funding to support Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). You can learn more about the foundation here: http://www.ashlyndyer.com/

Here are 2 projects that are currently underway thanks to the Ashlyn Dyer Foundation:

As we approach the third year anniversary of her passing, we would like to make you aware of our new project, the Ashlyn Dyer Aquatic Center, a Neuro Rehabilitation Pool at Barrow Neurological Center in Phoenix, Arizona, in memory of Ashlyn. We have pledged $250,000 for this project, paid in installments over the next four years. We are proud and excited to have the naming rights for this aquatic center that will assist traumatic brain injury and spinal injury patients. We are hoping to break ground in March of next year.

We are also excited for the Ashlyn Dyer Memorial ICU Lounge and Conference Room remodel underway at San Francisco General Hospital. Jonathan Tsao, principal architect of Tsao Design Group in San Francisco, has generously donated his time and expertise for this project. Our goal is to make a family’s stay during a time of hardship more comforting through this remodel.

The foundation was also handing out orange shirts and hats at the race on Sunday in order to raise awareness of the foundation. I will definitely think of Ashlyn and the foundation every time I put it on and go for a run.