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about Headsup

Headsup was founded by three Sport Management students from Brock University, who all suffered concussions throughout their experience playing amateur sports. The idea originated after founder Ryan Sutton suffered his latest and most severe concussion in 2016. Ryan, alongside founders Seth Mendelsohn, and Tim Hart; brainstormed ideas to help spread awareness of traumatic brain injuries and the impacts they have on students every day lives. They created Headsup to be an all encompassing social purpose brand that provides people with accurate, and up-to date information on concussions. Their dream was to provide a service that creates a

community type focus; giving people who are suffering from a concussion an outlet to discuss and learn more about their symptoms. The main goal for Headsup is to help prevent concussions by any means necessary, which is why the company has decided to donate 15% of all merchandise sells to the Canadian Concussion Centre (CCC). Our ambition is to give people a platform to learn from other athletes' experiences with concussions. Join the cause by supporting Headsup in their efforts to raise funds to further enhance the research being done by the CCC.

Meet the headsup team

Co-Founder Ryan Sutton

Ryan Sutton

Ryan has suffered four major concussions throughout his amateur sports career. The worst of which knocked him out for 45 minutes. Ryan has since battled through short term memory loss, vision problems and headaches. Ryan was advised by doctors to stop playing contact sports at the age of 18. As a result, he Co-Founded Headsup to pursue his ultimate goal of eliminating concussions and helping to prevent other athletes from going through similar traumas. By raising awareness and growing the brand, Ryan hopes to share his goal with others to unite athletes toward safer, healthier lives without brain injuries .

Co-Founder Seth Mendelsohn

Seth mendelsohn

Seth suffered his only concussion in his senior year playing Football. His concussion happened in practice right before the season started. He was told he was diagnosed with a mild concussion, yet still was unable to play for the majority of the season. Throughout Seth's Amateur football career, he began to notice a trend of his teammates not handling their concussions properly and going right back out on the field after taking substantial hits to the head. As a result, Seth was thus driven to help create the Headsup brand as a way for people to gain more insight on traumatic brain injuries in sport. His goal is for Headsup to become the leading voice for people who have suffered concussions, as well as those who have been there to support loved ones and friends that have been affected by the devastating symptoms.

Co-Founder Tim Hart

Tim Hart

Tim was forced from contact sport as a result of sustaining six (recorded) head Injuries throughout his amature athletic career. He believes that the best way to prevent other athletes from experiencing the same concussion problems he endured is to take action. Co-founding Headsup has provided him a new platform to raise awareness on sport related concussions. Through the brand, Tim hopes to one day lobby for policy change in sport and to help further the development of protective gear for athletes.

Donation Partner

15% of ALL Headsup Proceeds goes towards their research!

about

The Canadian Concussion Centre is a Canadian study based out of the Krembil Neuroscience Centre, at Toronto Western Hospital. They are focused on examining the possible correlation between repeated concussions and late deterioration of brain function. This problem is suspected to be especially frequent after repeated concussions in sports, but may also occur after concussions involving motor vehicle crashes, industrial injuries or falls.

Their Mission:

One of the main goals of the research team at the Canadian Concussion Centre is to examine the possible correlation between repeated concussions and late deterioration of brain function leading to CTE. Individuals who have sustained multiple concussions from playing sports seem to be at greater risk of developing CTE, but brain deterioration may also occur as a result of sustaining concussions in motor vehicle crashes, industrial injuries or falls.

Dr. Charles Tator leads the Canadian Concussion Centre's research team. Dr. Tator has been appointed to the Order of Canada as well as the Canadian Sport Hall of Fame for his continuous efforts on concussion prevention.

Below is a video of Dr. Tator and former CFL player Matt Dunnigan answering 10 significant questions of concussions and what we know of them today.

Parachute Canada's guide to determine the basic symptoms of concussions. This is a great template to help you figure out if you might be dealing with a traumatic brain injury. It is strongly advised to visit a doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.

Dr. Tator's 6-Step process to help athletes who are experiencing a concussion, a safe and responsible plan to return back to playing at full strength.

Dr. Tator's 6-Stage procedure to ease an individual suffering from a concussion back into a learning environment.

The Research

The Canadian Concussion Centre is the world's first program dedicated to a four pronged approach to concussions – research, education, diagnosis and treatment. The project is based out of the Krembil Neuroscience Centre at the University Health Network's Toronto Western Hospital. It is led by internationally acclaimed concussion expert, Dr. Charles Tator. The research team includes some of the world leaders in brain injury research, imaging, genetics, clinical care, neuropsychology, and psychiatry.

In May 2013, the Canadian Concussion Centre published their findings after studying the first ever autopsied brains of six former CFL players the in Human Neuroscience medical journal.

The findings were that three of the six players had acquired Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The research team discovered that although all the players had shown signs of late neurocognitive decline, not all of them showed signs of CTE. The three players without CTE had pathological diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson's disease

Components

A clinical research study involving former professional football and hockey players, and other professional athletes who undergo a neurological, neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological assessment as well as brain scans (MRIs), Magnetoencephalography's (MEG) and PET scans to help better understand the changes in the brain that may occur due to concussions
Improving diagnostic imaging techniques to diagnose the full spectrum of concussions – from acute concussion to post-concussion syndrome (PCS) to CTE – and to find ways to grade the severity of these conditions.
Researching new treatment approaches for people with PCS, especially those with multiple concussions in order to diminish cognitive and emotional symptoms, and minimize the neurological decline in CTE.
Searching for biomarkers including blood tests that may be used to diagnose a concussion as well as identifying any susceptibility to concussion within families through genetics.
Encouraging professional athletes or their families, on their behalf, to donate their brains to our research upon their death, especially after participating in one of the clinical studies, so that further study and understanding of concussions can be achieved through post mortem examinations.
Providing research findings and recommendations to sports organizations, employers and health care professionals so the best care can be provided during return to sports, school or work. With respect to sports we strive to ensure that all sports can be enjoyed by athletes of all ages and abilities with minimal risk of further concussions. We want young people to keep playing collision sports, but we want these sports to be as safe as possible. We also want school and work environments to be as safe as possible and return to school or work to occur on a graduated basis with any necessary accommodations being provided. Our Annual Concussion Symposium provides an excellent learning opportunity for health care professionals involved in concussion management.
Providing best practices to those who are returning to school or work so that normal lifestyle can be restored as quickly as possible after a concussion or during the management of PCS for those who do not recover fully within a month of sustaining a concussion.

What headsup Offers

Headsup Apparel & Team Apparel

Our Headsup Apparel is how we generate most of our donations money for concussion research. With each apparel purchase we donate 15% directly to the Canadian Concussion Centre. When you buy Headsup Apparel you are simultaneously advocating concussion awareness (by wearing the shirt) and helping to raise money for concussion research (% donated with every purchase).

Headsup also offers team apparel, and apparel for events. If you and your peers want to help spread concussion awareness on a larger scale go to the Contact Us page and email us about a Team Order.

Athlete and Concussion testimonies

Headsup wants to hear about your experience with concussions! Regardless the severity of the injury, we want to hear about how you dealt with having a concussion or helped a person who was suffering from one. Each week we will have a brief exclusive on our social media for our "Athlete of the Week", and at the end of the month we will post the full version of their stories on our website.

Feel free to email us at headsup.canada@hotmail.com if you want to share your story or select the Contact Us tab to fill in in your information on the site. We encourage you to join the Headsup Team today and help spread the awareness!

The ultimate concussion advocation platform

Our goal is to be able to unite athletes who have suffered concussions and who may seem alone in their recovery. We know personally how alienating it can be to have a concussion. The symptoms are all in your head and no one knows exactly what you are going through. We are striving to bridge this emotional pain by giving those athletes a voice, united in an effort to help each other.The objective is to create an interactive platform where athletes will be able to talk with one another to help answer any questions people dealing with concussions may have.