Fionn Parker-Cummings, a senior wide receiver-cornerback for the Bangor High School football team, has endured two concussions while playing the sport he loves.
That’s why he wants to contribute to research designed to help protect future generations of athletes from head injuries. So he has become the youngest person to donate his brain to the University of Pittsburgh’s National Sports Brain Bank.
Parker-Cummings will undergo annual evaluations with the brain bank whose goal is to upgrade and advance research on traumatic brain injuries. The bank was formed last year in response to the growing number of NFL players and other athletes who participated in contact sports and later developed cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative disease. After they die, donors’ brains are studied.
Parker-Cummings said he and his father, who is a neuroscientist, have been interested in the issue of concussions in football for a few years. He said he suffered his first concussion while playing youth football and his second one his sophomore year in high school. He also had a non-football-related concussion when he fell off his bike and landed on a rock.
“So I was seeing all this concussion stuff and (wondered) what else can I do to advocate for football and improve research on concussions,” said the 18-year-old, who also runs track and plays lacrosse at Bangor High.
“So why not donate my brain so they can use it to improve the sport,” he said on Friday.
The concussion he suffered his sophomore year sidelined him for one game.
“I took the necessary time to recuperate and was back as soon as I could,” said Parker-Cummings.
He said he has never thought about giving up football and plans to play in college.
“Injuries come with the sport. If you play any sport, you expect to get injured,” said Parker-Cummings. “If I get a concussion, I’m playing a sport I love to do.
I’d rather be hurt playing a sport I love than not play at all.”
Parker-Cummings said his father, Dr. Peter Cummings, supports his decision to one day donate his brain for research.
“I told him I wanted to do it and he thought it was great,” said Parker-Cummings. “He said he can try and help me move along with it and try to help me succeed in my goal.”
Dr. Peter Cummings told Portland TV station WMTW that he supported his son’s decision.
“He’s always been active in promoting safety and fighting against tackle football bans,” Cummings said. “It’s a big commitment, but not surprising given his passion for the sport.”
The University of Pittsburgh Brain Bank thanked Parker-Cummings in a media statement.
“While most of our donors prefer to remain anonymous, this high-school senior – the youngest donor to our Brain Bank thus far – will undoubtedly bring more attention and visibility to this issue and will hopefully spur others to consider similar pledges,” the statement said.
Being the youngest to donate his brain is special, Parker-Cummings said, and the feedback has been positive.
“I’ve seen my video on Tik-Tok and it’s kind of weird seeing myself on television and stuff,’’ he said. But I think it’s great. I’ve read the comments and seen other people who are saying it’s really cool and that they would like to help, too.”
