A signature event of the Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association (SBIA) is celebrating a 20th anniversary this year.

The Brain Boogie is held in cities across the province each year, and proceeds from all of them help to support programs that improve the lives of brain injury survivors.

This weekend, there are events happening in Prince Albert, Regina and Moose Jaw, and SBIA Executive Director Glenda James noted Yorkton has an event coming up at Cherrydale Golf Course once again, on Friday, September 16th.

Registration for the Brain Boogie in Yorkton starts at 2 p.m. with tee-off at 3:30 p.m. and costs $75 dollars per golfer which includes a BBQ burger.

“I made it out to the golf tournament in Yorkton before the pandemic and what an absolute hoot…it was so much fun.” James said of the last Brain Boogie event she went to in Yorkton.

James says the Brain Boogie all started when Barb Butler, a brain injury survivor following a car accident, discovered there were no programs or supports in her city, so she did something about it.

“With help from staff and help from other volunteers but it’s gone on to become quite something that our members are really proud of and really look forward to being involved in.” she continued.

According to a SBIA news release, Butler organized the first event for the organization as a city walk in Regina starting at the Northgate Mall and ending at the Southgate Mall. “It has since moved to Wascana Park in Regina and has expanded around the province, held at the end of August in four cities.” it continued.

James says the Brain Boogie has changed a lot since its inception, but there is one constant when you attend at any city in the province.

“What you’re immediately going to find is a sense of comradery and its kind of like a family gathering, especially because of the pandemic this is the first one we’ve really done,” James said, as in the last two years Brain Boogie events have been held virtually. “People are going ‘I’m so glad to see you’, ‘how have you been?’ and ‘I’m so glad to be around people who understand’ and I hear that at every event and program.”