Watch CBS News

Duerson's Family Creates Safety Program For Indiana School Athletes

MUNCIE, Ind. (CBS) -- The family and friends of the late Dave Duerson, who spent seven seasons with the Chicago Bears, have created a program to help Muncie, Ind., high school and middle school athletes who suffer head injuries.

As WBBM Newsradio's Dave Marsett reports, the Dave Duerson Muncie Community Schools Athletic Safety Fund is designed to help them avoid chronic traumatic encephalopathy caused by repeated brain trauma.

Duerson suffered from the condition before committing suicide a year ago.

The program will begin next school year. The Duerson fund will pay for baseline brain function tests for the athletes and help pay for post-concussion tests for those who cannot afford them.

Duerson starred at Muncie's Northside High School and at Notre Dame before an NFL career in which he played on two Super Bowl championship teams, the 1985 Chicago Bears and the 1990 New York Giants.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Dave Marsett reports

Podcast

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS Radio and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.