Our Team
Kiana
Special Initiatives Coordinator
Kiana is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Ottawa currently studying Health Sciences. In the spring of 2018, she suffered her third and most severe concussion while playing competitive soccer. The impact left her with severe symptoms, and she had to take time off school in order to focus on the rehabilitation process. She was inspired to join Keep Your Head Up in order to provide support systems for the concussion community and to help facilitate access to information for those who need it.
Kiana has been representing us as an ambassador in Ottawa and has been working with KYHU to help with social media content, the launch of our community apparel, and fundraising efforts.
Larissa
Community Outreach Volunteer
Larissa is in her final year at the University of Waterloo studying Environment and Business. As a student athlete, she has sustained many concussions throughout her lifetime and has seen many different recovery protocols. She knows first-hand the effects a brain injury can have on your social, physical, and mental wellbeing. Larissa is eager to help educate people on the effects of brain injuries and support those who have suffered from concussions
Alexa
Community Events Volunteer
Isabelle
Social Media Support Volunteer
Isabelle is in her third year at the university of Ottawa studying health sciences. The Keep Your Head Up Foundation interested her because of the work we do with mental health and the promotion of care and wellness after an injury. Isabelle would like to help by bringing awareness to her community about the importance of taking the necessary time to allow yourself to heal.
Shawn
Program Support Volunteer
Shawn is a Program Support Volunteer at the Keep Your Head Up Foundation, where he helps to grow KYHU's programs through program evaluation, lesson planning, fundraising, grant writing, outreach, and more.
He enjoys working with KYHU because of their ambition and their commitment to helping others. He enjoys sitting in on team meetings, meeting new people through partnership development, and using his versatile professional skillset to help grow the business in any way he can.
Shawn had his first concussion in October 2021 while skydiving, but is thankful for the lessons he's learned in being grateful, staying tough, having presence, and enjoying the simple things along the way. He's also thankful for the new opportunities he's gained, including the opportunity to self-express, re-write his life story, and be a part of something special at KYHU as he builds his business skills and helps people going through the same thing as him.
Hayley
Community Education Volunteer
Hayley has her Master of Health Education from the University of Ottawa. Before that, she received a Bachelor of Public Health at Brock University. In 2017, she sustained a severe concussion while playing rugby which resulted in her taking time of school and a reduced course load. Hayley hopes to use her experience and studies to spread information and awareness towards brain injuries.
Hayley assists with the creation and launch of our monthly newsletter.
Sanghy
Program Support Volunteer
Sanghy is currently a Psychology graduate student at Carleton University in Ottawa. Her research takes place at the Ottawa Hospital, working with those with multiple sclerosis. Aside from the research aspect, she wanted to give more back to the community suffering from neurological diseases. She wanted to work with those experiencing Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and concussions because the sudden nature of these conditions perhaps necessitates a more immediate support system in the immediate aftermath of diagnosis. She hopes to use her experience working with vulnerable populations to help KYHU foster a positive and supportive network with those experiencing TBI and concussions.
Sanghy supports KYHU’s Mindful Moments program.