June 18, 2025 • 4 mins
Cynthia Bidorini, Executive Director of the Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut, joins us live from the Travelers Championship to spotlight the organization’s mission and their first year participating in Birdies for Charity.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm Alison de Merz. I'm at the Travelers Championship in
Cromwell for Bertie's for Charity, an amazing program. Alongside we
have Cynthia Vedderini. She is executive director of the Brain
Injury Alliance. How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I'm wonderful, Thanks so much for having me today. It's
my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
So Bertie's for Charity. For every dollar raised, Webster Bank
is going to give fifteen cents. So if people go
to your website biact dot org or the Travelers Championship
dot com, they can donate right there.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yes they can, and it's been fabulous.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
This is our first year as a Bertie's for Charity
nonprofit and we are just so thrilled to be part
of this.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
For people who don't know about the Brain Injury Alliance,
what kind of programs and services do you offer? How
do you help people?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (00:47):
So, the Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut has been servicing
people across the state of Connecticut since nineteen eighty two,
and we really work to raise their voices and visibility
for people.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
With brain injury.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
And we do that by really working to improve their
lives through support, through education and advocacy. So we have
a free helpline. Anyone who has incurred a brain injury
or their family, friends, professionals can call our number and
(01:22):
they are connected with a certified brain injury specialist.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Wow, do you know that number offhand? Yeah, it's eight
six zero to one, nine to nine one.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
How have the programs and services positively affected the people
that you've helped?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Oh, it's really been tremendous. I think what we often
find when people call us is number one, nobody's expecting
to have incurred a brain injury, and we say it
happens in a matter of seconds, and it can impact
people cognitively, emotionally, and they really just don't know where
to turn and it's a complicated road to figure out
(02:01):
what you're going to be incurring over the next several weeks, months,
even years. And we really help them understand what a
brain injury is, about how it can be impacting them,
and where they can go for resources to help them
through this journey.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And that's amazing.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
I often reference Google that people go to Google doctor Google,
and it only instills sphere in them. This way, they
could go to B I, A C T dot org
and get accurate information and reduce those spares.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Absolutely, and I think that's one of the most wonderful
things that we do. Offers You're connected to somebody who
is trained to speak with you, and they just offer
a tremendous amount of information and guidance.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
And a community who has been there.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
And gets it right.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
So, you know, we have just a number of people,
you know, once once folks in curve brain injury. Sometimes
they resolve, sometimes they don't, and we have support groups
that can help them along the way. They can talk
with people other people who have been for the same situation.
We hold social events because sometimes inferring a brain injury
(03:09):
can be very isolating. Yes, it's important for people to
go out and to really live their best lives and
to connect with other people who are were on the
same road.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Do you have any events that are coming up?
Speaker 2 (03:21):
We do in October October fourth.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
In October fifth we have our Walk for Thought and
October fourth it's going to be in Manchester at Northwest
Park and October fifth we're going to be down in
west Haven at seven.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Rock right where Jimmy's is this absolutely store.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Get that bride shrimp afterwards, it's so good go for
a walk on the beach. What a great time. I'm
speaking with Cynthia Bitderini. She is executive director of the
Brain Injury Alliance.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Again.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
That web address is biact dot org or go to
Travelers Championship dot com. Please make a donation again. For
every dollar Webster Bank is going to give them fifteen cents.
Thank you so much for being here today and for
serving the community.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Thank you so much. Elson
I'm Alison de Merz. I'm at the Travelers Championship in
Cromwell for Bertie's for Charity, an amazing program. Alongside we
have Cynthia Vedderini. She is executive director of the Brain
Injury Alliance. How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I'm wonderful, Thanks so much for having me today. It's
my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
So Bertie's for Charity. For every dollar raised, Webster Bank
is going to give fifteen cents. So if people go
to your website biact dot org or the Travelers Championship
dot com, they can donate right there.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yes they can, and it's been fabulous.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
This is our first year as a Bertie's for Charity
nonprofit and we are just so thrilled to be part
of this.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
For people who don't know about the Brain Injury Alliance,
what kind of programs and services do you offer? How
do you help people?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (00:47):
So, the Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut has been servicing
people across the state of Connecticut since nineteen eighty two,
and we really work to raise their voices and visibility
for people.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
With brain injury.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
And we do that by really working to improve their
lives through support, through education and advocacy. So we have
a free helpline. Anyone who has incurred a brain injury
or their family, friends, professionals can call our number and
(01:22):
they are connected with a certified brain injury specialist.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Wow, do you know that number offhand? Yeah, it's eight
six zero to one, nine to nine one.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
How have the programs and services positively affected the people
that you've helped?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Oh, it's really been tremendous. I think what we often
find when people call us is number one, nobody's expecting
to have incurred a brain injury, and we say it
happens in a matter of seconds, and it can impact
people cognitively, emotionally, and they really just don't know where
to turn and it's a complicated road to figure out
(02:01):
what you're going to be incurring over the next several weeks, months,
even years. And we really help them understand what a
brain injury is, about how it can be impacting them,
and where they can go for resources to help them
through this journey.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And that's amazing.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
I often reference Google that people go to Google doctor Google,
and it only instills sphere in them. This way, they
could go to B I, A C T dot org
and get accurate information and reduce those spares.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Absolutely, and I think that's one of the most wonderful
things that we do. Offers You're connected to somebody who
is trained to speak with you, and they just offer
a tremendous amount of information and guidance.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
And a community who has been there.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
And gets it right.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
So, you know, we have just a number of people,
you know, once once folks in curve brain injury. Sometimes
they resolve, sometimes they don't, and we have support groups
that can help them along the way. They can talk
with people other people who have been for the same situation.
We hold social events because sometimes inferring a brain injury
(03:09):
can be very isolating. Yes, it's important for people to
go out and to really live their best lives and
to connect with other people who are were on the
same road.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Do you have any events that are coming up?
Speaker 2 (03:21):
We do in October October fourth.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
In October fifth we have our Walk for Thought and
October fourth it's going to be in Manchester at Northwest
Park and October fifth we're going to be down in
west Haven at seven.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Rock right where Jimmy's is this absolutely store.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Get that bride shrimp afterwards, it's so good go for
a walk on the beach. What a great time. I'm
speaking with Cynthia Bitderini. She is executive director of the
Brain Injury Alliance.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Again.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
That web address is biact dot org or go to
Travelers Championship dot com. Please make a donation again. For
every dollar Webster Bank is going to give them fifteen cents.
Thank you so much for being here today and for
serving the community.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Thank you so much. Elson
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