Mayor Alan Moeder has proclaimed the week of March 16-22 as Brain Awareness Week (BAW) in the City of Great Bend.

Recognized annually during the third week of March, the BAW campaign reaches over 7,300 organizations in 120 countries to build enthusiasm and support for brain science.

The Pilot Club of Great Bend is championing this year’s local educational initiative, helping the city recognize individuals affected by brain diseases, disorders and injuries. These conditions include – but are not limited to – depression, stroke, schizophrenia, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, post-traumatic syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, autism and other neurological disorders.

Moeder will present the Pilot Club of Great Bend with an official proclamation during the club’s presentation at noon on Tuesday, March 17, in the banquet area of Perkins restaurant.

The initial spark behind BAW came from President George H.W. Bush’s designation of the 1990s as the “Decade of the Brain,” which inspired Dana Foundation Chairman David Mahoney and neuroscientists to explore effective methods to communicate brain science to the public.

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of Brain Awareness Week. Since its inaugural campaign in 1996, which included 160 participating organizations across the United States, the Dana Foundation in collaboration with the Society of Neuroscience, the International Brain Research Organization and the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies has expanded BAW into a global observation promoting the importance of brain research.

For more information about Brain Awareness Week, please visit the Dana Foundation’s website. https://dana.org/brain-awareness-week/.