The San Diego College of Continuing Education is once again stepping forward with heart as it aims to be a top fundraiser at the 2026 surviveHEADSTRONG Walk and Health Fair. Hosted by the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation, the annual event will take place on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mission Bay’s DeAnza Cove (2740 DeAnza Road, 92109).
Students, faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and families from the College’s Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) program will proudly “walk and roll” side by side under the banner “Team ABI,” celebrating every step forward in recovery and community. To register, donate, or join Team ABI, visit: give.sdbif.org/team-abi.
The Acquired Brain Injury program at the College of Continuing Education is the only one of its kind in the nation — to provide free classes that support survivors recovering from brain trauma, stroke/aneurysm, brain tumor, brain infection and anoxia. Curriculum retrains students to achieve daily tasks and long-term goals to support their transition back into more independent living, volunteering, and career and educational pursuits.
The need is urgent for no-cost recovery and education programs. According to Northwestern Now, the lifetime cost of care for a person with traumatic brain injury can range from $85,000 to $3 million.
Nineteen years ago, former ABI instructor Heike Kessler-Heiberg founded Team ABI with a simple but powerful vision: to stand beside survivors and ensure they are never alone in their journey. Nearly two decades later, that vision has grown into a movement. Since 2008, Team ABI has raised more than $355,000, consistently ranking among the event’s top fundraising teams year after year.
For 2026, Team ABI has set its sights on raising an additional $25,000. A portion of every dollar raised goes toward the College of Continuing Education’s ABI trust fund, providing specialized classroom resources, educational opportunities, and scholarships for ABI students. In partnership with the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation, Team ABI is also working toward a collective goal of $75,000 to sustain the organization's critical programs, services, and life-changing resources for San Diegans on the path to recovery.
The surviveHEADSTRONG Walk and Health Fair is open to the public, welcoming survivors, their families, caregivers, advocates, and community members to make a meaningful impact. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit the College of Continuing Education outreach tables for more information on classes and programs.
“Supporting brain injury survivors and their families is not just part of our mission, it defines who we are. Our college was founded on the promise of access, equity, and opportunity for every learner, regardless of circumstance. We are honored to return to the surviveHEADSTRONG Walk as a leading donor, having a presence alongside our extraordinary students whose resilience inspires us every day,” said Continuing Education President Dr. Tina M. King, who for the third year will sponsor students in need to participate in the annual walk.
Free ABI classes take place online and at the College of Continuing Education’s Mesa College campus, as well as at the Educational Cultural Complex. Enrollment is open now.
