The community of Burlington on the Baie Verte Peninsula is gathering around one of its own who has been hospitalized and faces a long road to recovery following a brain injury.

Justin Newbury, coach of the high school boys’ basketball team, is at the Health Sciences in St. John’s with his three children and wife by his side. The full extent of his diagnosis is not yet known.

Burlington Mayor Rudy Norman says Justin has always been heavily involved in ensuring that local youth are given an opportunity to enjoy the sports that he grew up loving – especially basketball.

The team recently braved some very cold weather to raise money to help the family through the ordeal.

They held a toll booth and collected donations for their coach. Mayor Norman says them doing something so “selfless” shows the impact that Newbury has had on their lives

The mayor notes that Coach Newbury guided them to a gold medal last season in the qualifier.