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With the New York skyline as her background, Mary Kocy was practicing her water skiing to raise money for war veterans with traumatic brain injuries.

“We wanted to do one good turn for somebody, for some entity and going all the way around Manhattan is one good turn. So we are taking one good turn around Manhattan to benefit the veterans,” says Kocy.

The money raised will go to the Rusk Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center, which is piloting a research project to study the biology of traumatic brain disorder.

“What they often have is problems with cognition, being able to pay attention, concentrate, solve problems. Another problem they have is emotional regulation, so oftentimes they become very irritable, they become quiet, emotional, and because of that, they can’t go back to the things they did before,” says Dr. Steven Flanagan, chairman of the Rusk Institute.

“I have been outraged that a lot of solders have been coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with undiagnosed brain injuries, and I wanted to do something about it. Water skiing seemed like a fun way to raise awareness for the need and perhaps money for the cause,” says Kocy.

Kocy has raised almost $20,000 so far. It will take $120,000 to fund the research.

Margie Cole donated $500 to the cause.

“I was so taken that someone would do this on her own, take the initiative, and it was just a wonderful story,” says Cole.

Todd Lewis from Island Water Sports says he was more than willing to donate his boat and time for the cause.

“It’s just a great event that Mary is trying to help out with Rusk Institute, so she called us up and asked us if we wanted to do it and we were proud to do it,” says Lewis.

For standing up for a cause, Mary Kocy is the latest New Yorker of the Week.