Introduction

Denise Plante (Host): We have one more award that I want to get to. It’s the “But You Look Good” Inspiration Award. How many times have we talked about that tonight? So Ben Utecht has been selected to be the 2018 recipient of the “But You Look Good” Inspiration Award. Ben has been chosen because, as someone who is personally journeying through the pain and loss of traumatic brain injury caused by multiple concussions, he inspires others in the midst of their challenges and triumphs. So thank you, Ben, so very, very much for your courage to share your story publicly and to use your platform as a positive voice, providing hope for so many. And due to a prior commitment, unfortunately, Ben wasn’t able to join us this evening, but we do have a video.

Ben Utecht’s Acceptance Speech

Hi, everyone, this is Ben Utecht, and I have to tell you, what an honor to receive the “But You Look Good” Inspiration Award. Thank you to the Invisible Disabilities Association for the honor of receiving this award. It truly means more to me than you can possibly imagine.

Finding Purpose After Loss

My NFL football career came to an end much earlier than I thought it would because of multiple concussions. And after experiencing some memory loss for the first time in my life, I realized how important my mind and my memories are to the makeup of who I am. And it made me want to live every moment to its fullest because you never know when that moment will be its last. It began to define the rest of my life. And so to receive this award truly means a lot.

Choosing Hope and Impacting Others

So take courage for any one of you who has experienced an injury—an injury that no one else can see, that no one else can understand, but it’s affected your life—take courage, find hope. You’re going to come to a fork in the road. Choose the path that leads to hope. When you walk down that path, you will yourself begin to change people’s lives.

So again, thank you so much for this award. It means more to me than you can possibly know. Thank you.