On September 25th, 2004, Van Brooks’ life would change forever. Brooks, a Poppleton native, was a three-sport standout at Loyola Blakefield High School in football, basketball and lacrosse. While playing safety for the Dons’ football team against MIAA-opponent Georgetown Prep, he went in for a tackle and his head collided with someone’s knee. He heard a loud crack and his body went numb. Brooks would spend the next four months in the hospital where he was told that he’d never be able to walk again, would never regain feeling below his neck, and would rely on the help of others for the rest of his life.
Prior to the accident Brooks was garnering the interest of Division I football programs and had envisioned a college football career, but soon realized he needed an alternative life plan. Using the same competitive spirit that led him to success on the football field, he was set to prove the doubters wrong. ”My life became an extended football game,” said Brooks. With the help of Restorative Therapies Inc. (RTI), a small company specializing in a new functional electrical stimulation therapy treatment, and with a great support staff, Brooks began to defy the odds.
On September 27th, 2012, exactly eight years and two days after the accident, Brooks proudly walked again – three steps during a therapy session. He then made it up to eight steps at a time with a walker, and is now at 25 steps (the entire length of a gym!) Brooks was also told he’d never have feeling below his neck and now he has feeling all throughout his body. He additionally finished high school on time with his classmates after missing most of his junior year and is a 2012 graduate of Towson University with a degree in Mass Communication. He is independent, drives his own car, and eats without assistance… you might even catch him at Mother’s Federal Hill Grille shooting pool with his friends.
Brooks has an amazing, odd-defying story based on hard work and perseverance. But, if you spend time with Brooks, he wants to spend more time talking about the work he is doing with others and his foundation, SAFE Alternative Foundation for Education, Inc., which he started in 2012.
When Brooks’ dreams of playing football at a high level were altered in September of 2004, he had his education, in addition to his family, the Loyola community, local professional athletes, the Baltimore football community and others, to support him. Brooks knew he was fortunate to have a backup plan and an incredible support system, which is exactly what he is hoping he can now provide to other young people in need. “I soon learned that this was what was meant to be, and that I had the ability to inspire others,” said Brooks.
As you enter SAFEAlternative.org, there is a splash page that reads, “What is your safe alternative? If you weren’t a _____, what would you be?” SAFE’s mission is to inform others about the importance of obtaining an education, as well as having an alternate career plan in anticipation of life’s deviations.
Through donations from local companies, such as RTI and Signing Day, fundraisers, support from the Towson University football and basketball programs, and persistence from Brooks, SAFE is helping to reach many young people and families in need. This summer they gave away 300 backpacks filled with school supplies to local students, led an effort to clean and renovate the basketball court at St. Luke’s Church, and hosted their first annual Summer Showdown, an AAU basketball tournament for 5th-8th graders.
This week Brooks provided 50 local families with Thanksgiving food baskets (…and on Thursday he, like most Loyola Dons, will be stopping by the Turkey Bowl football game against Calvert Hall!) SAFE will also be adopting local families and donating Christmas gifts to them this holiday season.
Brooks is working with the local Salvation Army Recreation Center in Franklin Square to help increase its attendance, as he knows it is important to keep kids engaged, and is also one of the mentors for the Hollins Market-based CUPs Coffehouse mentorship program for local at-risk youth and young adults.
At just 25 years of age, Brooks has defied the odds and accomplished more than many will in an entire lifetime, but of course he isn’t done yet. Brooks wants SAFE to become one of the biggest foundations in Baltimore, and is currently looking for property to provide a permanent home for his foundation and some of its programs. Brooks expects to be walking on his own in the next five to ten years and, as always, is continuing to bring that ’4th quarter of a football game’ mentality to every physical therapy session.
Written by Kevin Lynch