Sophomore James Orrigo is the Lad in a Battle.

James Orrigo suffered two back-to-back concussions in the first half of a lacrosse game as a high school sophomore. After being cross-checked by an opposing player then later running into the blunt end of that same opponent’s stick, Orrigo found himself unable to move.

Post game, doctors diagnosed Orrigo with severe post-concussive syndrome. PCS is a complicated disorder resulting from mild traumatic brain injuries. It is known to cause headaches, anxiety, loss of memory, slowed processing speed, depression, personality change, etc. Orrigo was unable to walk or talk.

A year and a half later, though, he was back to his normal self – this time with a guitar rather than a lacrosse stick.

Eight years ago, Orrigo’s mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only 12 months to live. Despite the gloomy prediction, she’s still fighting today. Orrigo would attend treatments with her – saying one of the hardest parts was seeing kids in the infusion room.

“We’re allowed to hang out here on the Quad doing nothing, and they’re in there suffering,” Orrigo said.

Thus, Lad in a Battle was born.

Lad in a Battle “serves as my music/causative movement to encourage people to do positive things.”

For Orrigo, lad stands for Life Above Alcohol and Drugs. It provides an alternative to peer pressure and drinking by encouraging positive actions. Given his typical bubbly and optimistic demeanor, Orrigo complains many people mistake him for being drunk or high. His mission reminds people that you can be positive and have fun without being under the influence.

However, Orrigo’s message involves far more than just an anti-drug campaign. It involves a battle. Personally, he’s chosen to battle stereotypes.

In 2009, Orrigo added another element to his positive movement. He started selling Lad in a Battle t-shirts to benefit the Make-A-Wish (MAW) Foundation. The first shipment of 150 American Apparel shirts nearly sold out – leaving Orrigo with a hefty $1000 donation. His goal is to make one wish come true by raising $6000 for the foundation.

According to Orrigo, the t-shirts act as your amour in battle. They give you courage. They help you stand out. Once purchasing a shirt, the wearer is required to take a picture of himself doing a good deed and post it to the Lad in a Battle Facebook page.

“Seeing that people actually care, going out of their way to make a difference – it’s a really cool feeling seeing other people in their [Lad in a Battle] shirts,” Orrigo said.

Lad in a Battle’s next undertaking is getting an official backing from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Orrgio wants to expand this endeavor to include teenagers currently involved with MAW.

“When little kids get their wish granted, they are so happy,” Orrigo said. “But when teenagers get their wish granted, it makes them feel like they have nothing to live for anymore. They’ve gotten what they wanted, and that’s it. I want to open up Lad in a Battle to them so they have something bigger to be a part of. They aren’t just an illness.”

Orrigo’s influence reaches far beyond his involvement with MAW, though. Following his injury, he toured the state of Massachusetts with a neurosurgeon and a professional wrestler warning against the danger of concussions and injuries resulting from contact sports for the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts.

In addition, he was a member of the State Advisory Committee and the Student Ambassador for Austin Preparatory for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. He was also the Section 1 recipient of the 2009 National High School Spirit of Sport award for the National Federation of State High School Associations. Orrigo also attended the Youth Sports Concussion Conference in 2007.

Orrigo is currently in the process of getting his music on iTunes – he’s written 61 songs in two years. As a freshman, he won JMU’s “Madison Idol” with his original song “Boat Shoes.” Catch his next performance Friday, October 1 at Block Party in the ‘Burg at 4pm.

“Get involved. Don’t be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone. You may need a little help sometimes, but it’s all about taking that first step. Don’t be afraid to lead – if you know what you’re doing is right, people will follow.”