Surfing without limits and now skating without limits. That's Life Rolls On!

LRO was in Venice Beach, California this past Saturday for They Will Skate Again. The LA Times was there to catch all the action.

Others tried their luck and lost. They spun out of control, hit the ground hard, face down, one limp leg on top of the other.

Each time, they got up with help, laughed it off and kept trying, like any regular skateboarder would.

"That's part of the thrill," said Rancho Los Amigos therapist Adam Wilson, who looked on from the sidelines, "that there's a fear factor, and they can still challenge themselves."

Among the bravest were the little ones, such as Leland Moore, who was born with spina bifida.

Like most, the fourth-grader with a freckled face had never attempted to skate. He imagined the park on his ride up from Carlsbad:

"I thought it would be huge, full of super scary, super deep curves," he said.

But when he saw it, he said, he thought: "Ah, this is nothing."
(Picture credit: Christina House, For The Times)

Read the rest here.

More on Life Rolls On.

Click here for a recap of LRO's They Will Surf Again event in Wildwood Crest, NJ.

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This story coming from North Carolina:

A Carrboro man in a motorized wheelchair was the victim of a hit-and-run driver on Sunday, police said.

Ronald Glenn suffered two broken legs and a broken elbow and is recuperating in UNC Hospitals. He said Wednesday that knowing someone left him injured on the side of the road hurts as much as his injuries.

"I like to forgive people, but it's hard for me to even think about that right now," Glenn said.

The hit-and-run occurred Sunday afternoon on the Jones Ferry Road exit ramp from N.C. Highway 54. Glenn, who has limited movement from the neck down from a previous spinal cord injury, said he was returning home in his motorized wheelchair after buying his daily lottery ticket.

"All of a sudden, this car just came out of nowhere, and he smacked me head on," he said.

Read the rest.

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Chicago, Illinois. Ever been there? Me either, but next Thursday I'll be heading there for a conference and if you really want you can head there, too... as part of Team Reeve® for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon being held on Sunday, October 9.

Here's your chance to see one of the nation's most known cities and do something great. If you already live in the Chicago area, then what are you waiting for?

This is your last week to register for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, so hurry up, and apply now!

Go Team Reeve®!!

Janelle


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New in the PRC Library…

A Chosen Bullet: A Broken Man’s Triumph Through Faith and Sports. By Bill Renje. Emerald House, 2011.

This memoir takes the reader through Bill Renje’s thirty year journey beginning as an uninspired, permanently paralyzed teenager to a point where he finally realizes true success and happiness. Bill’s life changed the day a 9mm bullet ripped through his neck from five feet away. It took a combination of faith and perseverance, along with his passion for Chicago sports, to rise above this low point. Bill went on to become a two-time Paralympic gold medalist and a happily married father of three. His story reaffirms the fact that, no matter what the obstacle, you can still achieve your goals.

A copy of this book can be checked out from the Paralysis Resource Center’s library.

by Diane Bligh

Join Gary Karp and the Reeve Foundation for a free webinar, Modern Manual Wheelchair.

Wheelchairs have become extremely sophisticated - and so more complicated. To take best advantage of the remarkable gains in mobility, safety, stability, and efficiency that the modern wheelchair has to offer, some education is called for.

The more a chair user understands the various options and decisions involved, the greater the chance they will specify the optimal set of wheels in partnership with other team players - therapist, dealer, and family members.

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center is pleased to present this session with writer, speaker, and 38-year wheelchair user Gary Karp, who will take you on a comprehensive tour of the modern manual wheelchair and the core decisions involved in its specification.

Rigid or folding? Customized or adjustable? What wheels and casters? How do you identify the array of measurements asked for on the multi-page order form with its overwhelming array of options? Seat width and depth, front and rear seat to floor height, types of chair backs, brakes, footrests, and even the handrim on the wheels.

In clear, understandable terms, Gary will explain the principles behind these options to help you identify the chair that meets your needs according to your desired lifestyle, your home, how you transport yourself and your chair, where you want to go.

Join us for this highly informative webinar that will make a direct difference in the quality of life and independence of any modern wheelchair user.

Title: The Modern Manual Wheelchair
Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now!

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Lock Haven University had a visit from the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team Tuesday.

The college build is part of the Newberry Township building project for Brian Keefer, who attends the university in the northcentral part of the state.

Keefer was paralyzed from the chest down after a 2008 gymnastics accident. He was the president of Lock Haven's gymnastics club. After the accident, Keefer wanted to return to school.

Lock Haven transformed a first floor lounge in its Woolridge Hall dormitory into a wheelchair accessible living space for Brian and his dad, Steve, said Mary W. White, director of marketing and communications at Lock Haven.

Read more.

Photos and videos of the Keefer family home makeover.

Here is a fact sheet about home modification from our Paralysis Resource Center.

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This story from NBC Sports shows just how much the football and paralysis communities are coming together for one of their own.

... But Scott, who applied for a trademark on the phrase “Can’t Wait” in March, told NFL.com he’s planning to donate the proceeds to a fund for the medical care for former Rutgers linebacker Eric LeGrand, who was paralyzed in a game last year.

Scott said he doesn’t know LeGrand personally but was moved by hearing about how he has returned to class at Rutgers and kept a positive attitude.

“I’ve never met him but I heard he’s a great kid,” Scott told NFL.com. “He has a lot of concerns and needs right now, but I know someday he will walk, and that’s something I can’t wait for.”

The clothing line will feature three original designs, and Scott said he’ll produce 1,200 shirts at first and see how sales go.

“All the proceeds from the first run will go to LeGrand to help him,” Scott said. “I want to do something for him, to help him. I hope we’ll sell out the shirts quickly so we can get the money to him because things are expensive with his care, and I know there are money needs. For instance, he needs to refit the doors at his house for his wheelchair.”

Read the rest.

More on LeGrand.

Janelle
 

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Neurological researchers in Baltimore are investigating how SCUBA diving affects a person's mental and physical health. Watch the video.

Then go meet Julie Mora Perez, who is living with paralysis and has been a SCUBA diver since 1987.

Rob

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This past weekend was probably one of the most memorable of my life. I had the opportunity to volunteer at Life Rolls On’s flagship program, They Will Surf Again (TWSA). TWSA is a no-cost program that allows those living with SCI to push the boundary of possibility through surfing. Everyone gathers for a day of surfing, inspiration, and camaraderie.

Read more about They Will Surf Again!

To be honest, I would have never heard about this program if I wasn’t an editorial intern at the Reeve Foundation. I’ve never been around anyone in a wheelchair, so I thought volunteering for this event would be an experience. I brought my mom along for the weekend and headed down to the beach at Wildwood Crest, NJ.

The morning started off at the wee hour of 8 a.m. (I’m not a morning person so this was an event within itself) with weather that didn’t look so promising. I walked up to the volunteer table with nerves running through me. I didn’t know what to expect, because until I started at the Foundation, I had zero knowledge about paralysis and the true impact it has on someone.

When 9 a.m. rolled around, the event was in full motion. I have to say the first eye-opener for me was watching the volunteers roll the surfers in beach wheelchairs, which have oversized wheels making it easier to travel through the sand, down to the surfers’ area. I love everything about the beach, but I never really thought about how hard it would be for someone in a wheelchair to travel through the thick sand.

It was touching to see how many people came out to volunteer their time. With over 165 volunteers and 28 surfers, the beach was packed (and the sun was finally out!) I was a hospitality volunteer so I spent a portion of the morning making sure everyone had breakfast and fed the crowd when lunch came around.

The first round of surfers was up to have their 30 minutes in the water. The water was still a bit cold, but that didn’t stop them. I listened as the volunteers took the time out to ask each surfer how they wanted to be transferred from the chair to the surf board. It was mind-blowing to see the volunteers really take the time to listen to each surfer and make sure they felt 100% comfortable (pictured at left).

I expected the surfers to be screaming with excitement (pictured at right) as they rode into shore on a wave. But instead the volunteers in the water were the ones who were the loudest of all. At one point, I looked out to see all the volunteers jumping up and down with their hands in the air as one surfer rode a wave into shore. The feeling I got from watching the surfers glide into shore on the boards is unforgettable.

Watching the surfers take their turns in the water was truly incredible. I’ve never been surfing before and to be honest, I don’t think I would have the skill to surf. I saw each participant, varying from age 9 to their 40’s, not only conquer the waves, but conquer them without complete control of their bodies. I was aware of the limitations a wheelchair has, but I never saw them first hand, so seeing each and every one of the surfers take the limitations and throw them away was the best thing I’ve ever witnessed.

I met a little girl, Bridget, who is 9-years-old and told me this was her third TWSA event. I couldn’t control my laughter when she told me that she was beating all the other surfers. She said her favorite part was the waves splashing in her face.

While Bridget (pictured at left) couldn’t get enough, Angela, who never surfed before, said she hoped surfing would give her the feeling of “freedom.”

If you asked me a month ago about paralysis, I wouldn’t be able to tell you much other than you would need a wheelchair to get around. A week ago I would be able to tell you that it impacts over five and a half million people. But today I can tell you paralysis is much bigger than a wheelchair or statistic. I’ve learned that even though someone is paralyzed and in a wheelchair, limitations and boundaries may be set, but the possibility to break free from those is greater than paralysis could ever be.



Christine Fanning
Editorial Intern

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Last Thursday was my second time visiting Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation. Kessler, located in West Orange, NJ, is one of seven Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network (NRN) locations.

It is one thing to read about our NRN, conduct interviews with NRN participants, and see pictures of it. But, it is quite another to see it all in person. Last time I was at Kessler I met then 19-year-old Tony Malloy. A young man ready to take on the world and live life. Read his story here. This time I met an older gentleman, Ray, who was spinal cord injured for the second time. Crazy right? I thought so, too.

But the crazy part, in fact, was the dedication Ray has to his rehab. Ray was on his 54th rehab session and religiously never misses a day. In addition to watching Ray on the treadmill performing locomotor training, I was pretty amazed by his ability to take about 5-10 steps on his own with minor assistance from a physical therapist and a walker.

Also at the NRN on Thursday was 19-year-old, Paul. Paul wasn't there for rehab that day, but took a few minutes to chat with us. If he never openly said he was spinal cord injured (C6, C7 level injury) almost a year ago, I would have never known. He was walking and standing like anyone else... though he did admit he tends to trip a lot!

Paul goes to the NRN to work his lower body, and to the gym to work his upper body. He runs eight miles an hour on the locomotor treadmill. I want you to go back and read that sentence... eight miles in one hour. I can't even do that, let alone someone who broke their back! He can also perform 10 full sit-ups (5 with no leg assistance.)

Essentially, this trip to Kessler and meeting Ray and Paul is another reason to believe in what the Reeve Foundation does.

Learn about the Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network.


Janelle



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We told you about Reeve Foundation ambassador Karrie Webb's big win back in March in the RR Donnelly LPGA Founder's Cup. She had split her $200,000 between the Reeve Foundation and Japan tsunami relief efforts. Read about it here.

With all her success, Karrie recognizes the women who came before her and paved the way in the LPGA. (Picture compliments of The Associated Press)

"I don't think we get the opportunity enough to celebrate our founders and where we've come from. I couldn't be more honored to win that event because I wouldn't have had the career that I've had and the life that I've had if it weren't for those 13 women."

The Founders Cup was also noteworthy because every player showed up knowing they wouldn't be banking a penny of their winnings. The tournament's entire $1 million purse was donated to charity with each player designating a beneficiary for their winnings.

For Webb, half of the $200,000 she won went to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Foundation, a charity she has reverence for because her long-time coach, Kevin Haller, has been a quadriplegic for 20 years. The other $100,000 went to Japan's earthquake relief effort, another special donation for her because, as she said, "I love the Japanese people, and for the fans, the people, and the many businesses over there that have supported me throughout my entire career, I feel like it's just the least I could do."

Read the rest.

More on our ambassadors.

Janelle
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In an extremely tight race, Eric Lantz of Houston, Texas was named the Reeve Foundation's 2011 Best Dad on Wheels.

There were tons of entries all with compelling stories, and after narrowing it down to the top 10, you voted Eric the winner. In addition to bragging rights and a $500 vineyard vines gift package, Eric is also a local celebrity! He was featured on his local Fox television station in Houston.

Meet Eric, his family, and the coworker who nominated him. Watch the video now!

More on Eric and what it means to be a dad.

Congratulations Eric!

Janelle


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Next Sunday is Father's Dad and to honor all our favorite dads out there, we wanted to enlist our community members.

First, don't forget you have until Tuesday, June 14 to vote for the 2011 Best Dad on Wheels. It wasn't easy narrowing down our top ten, but we have chosen some solid dads, and now it's your turn to vote and take the pressure off us!

Vote now at www.ChristopherReeve.org/bestdad!

Oh, and after you do that, don't forget to get the perfect gift for dad, grandpa, uncle, or anyone else! For $25 or more, you can give a Reeve Foundation Care & Cure Father's Day e-card (pictured) which will show how much you care about the guy in your life you're giving it to and help those living spinal cord injuries all that the same time!

Get your Care & Cure Father's Day e-card today!

Need some type of gift to go with the card? No problem, we have you covered!

The Reeve Foundation is vineyard vines' Tied to a Cause partner for the month of June! The preppy clothing company custom-designed a special Reeve Foundation tie, featuring tiny super heroes in our logo colors. The tie is available for sale here during June, and the Reeve Foundation will receive 100% of proceeds from each tie sold! vineyard vines is also hosting four in-store shopping events in June (in Boston MA, Georgetown/DC, Greenwich CT, and Southampton NY) where customers receive 10% discount, and vineyard vines donates 10% of total sales for the night to us. Go here for more information about the event locations and times of the in-store events.

Buy a specially designed vineyard vines tie today!

Janelle

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From CBS Sports and the Associated Press:

Johnathan Taylor (pictured) and Buddy Lamothe may never play baseball again after accidents left them partially paralyzed.

That didn't matter to the teams that picked them Wednesday during the final rounds of the Major League Baseball draft.

Taylor, an outfielder from the University of Georgia, was a 33rd-round pick of the Texas Rangers, while Lamothe, a reliever from San Jacinto College, was the Houston Astros' 40th-round selection. (Associated Press photo credit)

Read more.

Now that's what I call team spirit!

Learn about adaptive sports and competition.

Janelle

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After a long, cold winter, the hot months of summer are finally here and that means Life Rolls On's flagship program They Will Surf Again is fully under way.

Individuals with spinal cord injuries from around the country gather together for a day of surfing, inspiration and camaraderie. Some have not surfed since their injury, some have never surfed, some surf all the time despite their varying mobility. TWSA pairs roughly 7 volunteers with each surfer, for a day of excitement, joy, and best of all, surf!

On Wednesday, I spoke with Sarah at Life Rolls On who was in Texas for a They Will Surf Again event tomorrow in Port Aransas. Next stop, Wildwood Crest, NJ.

Want to know if TWSA is coming to your area this season? Click here for the full 2011 TWSA schedule.

Join in the LRO group in the online community.

Watch a video from TWSA in Jacksonville, Florida.

Janelle

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