Several WVU Agencies Involved in Bringing Adaptive Ski Event Back to Canaan Valley in January of 2026
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on December 17, 2025
The MoCrazy Strong Brain Injury Foundation, the West Virginia Traumatic Brain Injury Services program at the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities, and the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia are teaming up once again to bring their Alive to Thrive Day event back to Canaan Valley on January 22-23, 2026.
Alive to Thrive is a weekend of adaptive skiing for TBI survivors, peer connection, and practical brain-injury support. People with TBI, their families, rehabilitation professionals, students, community partners, and the general public are all welcome to attend. The event is built
around accessible skiing, which aligns strongly with the MoCrazy Foundation’s cause. In 2015, professional skier Jamie MoCrazy had a severe accident on the slopes that left her in a coma. The documentary film #MoCrazyStrong, which will be screened at Alive to Thrive, follows Jamie’s recovery journey and TBI advocacy efforts.
around accessible skiing, which aligns strongly with the MoCrazy Foundation’s cause. In 2015, professional skier Jamie MoCrazy had a severe accident on the slopes that left her in a coma. The documentary film #MoCrazyStrong, which will be screened at Alive to Thrive, follows Jamie’s recovery journey and TBI advocacy efforts.
Everyone involved is excited to see Alive to Thrive grow even more after the event made a successful debut in West Virginia last winter.
“The impact we saw in 2025 was extraordinary,” said Jamie MoCrazy. “West Virginia proved that this event could create life-changing moments for brain injury survivors and families far beyond our home base. We’re bringing Alive to Thrive back to West Virginia because there are so many people here who deserve access to adaptive adventure, meaningful connection, and the belief that they can truly thrive after their brain injury.”
In addition to skiing and tubing opportunities, Alive to Thrive will offer plenty for professionals and students, including a one-day CEU conference, Pushing the Peak: Elevating Brain Injury Science and Support. Curated by the WV TBI Services program, this interactive conference will feature presentations and workshops from national TBI experts.
"We are thrilled to be able to put on a second Alive to Thrive event,” said WV TBI Services program manager Cortland Nesley. “Last year, a group of individuals with TBI engaged in adaptive winter sports, with many skiing for the first time in their lives. The feedback we received from participants last year was overwhelmingly positive; we knew this should not be a one-time event.”
Challenged Athletes of WV will once again assist with accessible on-snow instruction for people with TBI, this time in collaboration with students from the WVU Physical Therapy program.
“There are so many narratives about TBI that center the idea of being too broken or deficient,” said Nesley. “While the pain of loss is real, last year’s event made it very clear that life is not over after a TBI.”
“Watching someone with a TBI embark on an adventure, step into the mountains, feel the cold air, and realize they can do what they once thought was impossible,” said MoCrazy. “Those are the moments that change lives.”
This year’s Alive to Thrive event in West Virginia is made possible thanks to a presenting sponsorship from the Toyota Way Forward Fund.
View the full schedule and get tickets: https://www.mocrazystrong.org/alivetothrive_west-virginia/
