MARY LOU BARANSKI

Mary Lou Baranski contracted Viral Encephalitis at the age of 17, leading to her subsequent brain injury and Multiple Sclerosis. But while others may have chosen to stand on the sidelines, Baranski accepted those challenges and began a rigorous exercise and training program. That same determination and competitive spirit made Baranski a formidable opponent in the athletic arena. At the 1983 Cerebral Palsy Games, Baranski earned a gold medal in the shot put, a silver for weight lifting, and two bronzes for the club-throw and wheelchair soccer. In 1984, she was one of 14 athletes selected by President Ronald Reagan to represent the USA in the International Games for the Disabled, and Baranski won medals in all five events in which she competed. In addition to being a tenacious defender for the rights of the disabled, Baranski has been active in the MS Society, a member of the Board of Directors for the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, and a supporter of Special Olympics and the Children's Sports and Recreation Festival.