Here’s an excerpt from the thank you letter 2011 Team Reeve® Chicago Marathon athlete Brian Powers wrote to his supporters:

“See for me…the fatigue and pain I was experiencing at around mile 18 would all be over with once I reached mile 26.2. As for others that are less fortunate, than most of us, they live with pain and discomfort each and every day. So I thank God that I could run for this cause and together with your support we are making a long term difference.”

Brian (pictured at right) ran in honor of his neighbor & friend, Julie, who is living with a spinal cord injury since summer of 2003. He raised over $4000… much more than was required when he joined the team. (Our Chicago team has the lowest required minimum fundraising amount, just $500, so if you’re a little nervous about fundraising, this is the one to start with!)

We know each of YOU know someone, but the question I often come back to is -- what will you DO? That is what Team Reeve® is all about. It’s your opportunity to make the commitment, put in the work and seriously do something to make a difference for people living with paralysis. If doing the marathon yourself is not an option, then now is your opportunity to get the conversation going and ASK someone else to join us because you care deeply about the work we do. (Pictured at left: 2011 Team Reeve Achilles BOA Chicago Marathon Athlete Alberto Velasco and family.)

Chicago’s going to SELL OUT real fast this year folks…..JOIN TEAM REEVE® TODAY!

Read about some of our other Team Reeve® members here under 'Featured Stories.'

Leigh
Manager, Team Reeve®

 

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I have a weakness for boy bands coming our of Boston (cough, cough, The New Kids on the Block!) While it's not my famed NKOTB, here is your chance to go see another really awesome performance in Boston.

On December 8, check out Kyle Patrick, of the band Click Five at his performance at Q Division Studios with 100% of the proceeds benefitng the Reeve Foundation; Kyle ran the 2011 ING New York City Marathon for Team Reeve in early November. Read More

Jesse Ruben is running the ING New York City Marathon for the second time on Sunday as part of Team Reeve. Last year, our web manager, Julie, basically dared him to and he took up the challenge and kicked butt. This year he got his sister to do it too. Read More

This note came to us from Team Reeve runner Allegra Felter and we just had to share. She is dedicated and ready as ever to cross that finish line of the 2011 ING New York City Marathon on November 6 for Team Reeve! Here's her letter: Read More

The 38 members of this year's Team Reeve Chicago are set to take on the Bank of America Chicago Marathon this weekend (October 9, 2011). It is our biggest team ever, and the most we have ever raised at this event -- almost $50,000. Read More

Enthusiastic supporters, energetic participants and emerging sunshine came together to make Team Reeve Connecticut's 2nd annual Roll-a-thon in Hartford's beautiful Bushnell Park a great success -- and great fun! Read More

It is not always easy to express the amount of respect, joy, love, or admiration you have for someone...especially someone you have never met, never will meet.

With this, I speak of Christopher Reeve. This Saturday, September 25, would have been his 59th birthday. I, as well as I hope many of you, will celebrate this day, not mourn it. Even after Christopher (and Dana) are no longer with us physically, there is no doubt they are here in other ways.

They are everywhere... How we can look at the impact of Christopher in the paralysis field, and not be moved is simply impossible.

So even though I am writing this birthday wish in honor of Christopher as someone who never knew him, I encourage you to read this letter from his oldest son, Matthew, someone who knew him quite well. Here's part of the letter:

Rather than allowing his injury to define him, my father redefined what was possible for people living with spinal cord injuries. And, with the generous help of caring friends like you, he energized an international search for treatments and cures for paralysis -- a search that, with your help, led to this remarkable breakthrough.

We are now closer than ever to realizing my father's dream of regained movement, recovered function, and new steps for individuals living with spinal cord injuries. And though he is not here to continue the journey with us, you and I keep his memory alive by carrying on the work he began. (Picture credit above: Ken Regan; Matthew, Christopher, and Alexandra 1996)


Read all of Matthew's letter here.

Happy Birthday Christopher. May we all celebrate your legacy!

Janelle

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There was no better way to commemorate the spirit of community on September 11th than by joining the family and friends of Ryan Rigard for their 5th annual golf outing to benefit the Reeve Foundation. The rain held off, and a record of nearly 100 golfers came out to Pocono Farms Country Club for a day marked by caring and generosity -- and a little friendly competition. Ryan thanked everyone by joining for a few minutes via Skype, and attendees learned about a recent breakthrough in spinal cord injury research.

The event is projected to raise $10,000 to advance the Reeve Foundation's vital work. We appreciate the Rigards and all of your wonderful supporters. Thank you! (Karen and Rich Rigard, parents of Ryan Rigard, pictured)

Trish and Team Reeve

PS: Speaking of Team Reeve, next it's on to Montana and marathons, right, Ryan!? (No pressure of course!)

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I look up the definition of "power" and all the definitions I am finding don't really express the power of our Social Mediathon this past Tuesday. The theme of the first ever Reeve Foundation Social Mediathon was "The Power of We;" all of us coming together to empower the paralysis community to raise funds for our mission of "Today's Care. Tomorrow's Cure.

We raised over $4,000 and counting. But more than this tangible amount was the intangible evidence of everyone who supported us. This, to me, is "power."

So I thank everyone on behalf of the nearly 5.6 million Americans living with paralysis for their support, compassion, and selflessness to spread the message. (8-year-old Chase Ford, pictured, is walking again thanks to the Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network.)

My favorite quotation that we used in many of our posts was from Dana Reeve, "Giving back is the rent you pay for being on the planet." It is so simple, yet, well, powerful. While we are all on our Facebook and Twitter accounts several times daily, we gave back during the Social Mediathon to disperse our message into cyberspace, to donate, to support our work.

So one more time, I will say, thank you, because each and every one of you is ultimately THE POWER OF WE. YOU are part of this movement.

Janelle

PS: There's still time to donate. We are asking to donate $1 for every year you have been fortunate enough to walk. Whether it was $5 or $500, you are helping us to carry on Christopher and Dana's legacy.


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We are just days away from the Reeve Foundation's first ever social mediathon happening on Tuesday (September 20) beginning at 8am.

That's right, I'll say it again so you can mark your calendars:
REEVE FOUNDATION SOCIAL MEDIATHON
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
8AM - 11:59 (EST) PM

Here's the plan people. Plain and simple. Via social media (mostly Twitter and Facebook) we are trying to raise awareness and donations for our mission of "Today's Care. Tomorrow's Cure." Sounds easy, right? It is, I promise. So now you're probably wondering, 'Well, that's easy enough, how can I help?' Great question!

1. First, click here: it outlines the social mediathon with all the basics you need to know.
2. Then, click here to donate ($1 for every year you've been walking) and help us kick this off!
3. Finally, be sure to post it on your own Facebook and Twitter pages, email your friends and family, spread the word!

THE POWER OF WE! That is what this is all about. Coming together via the power of cyberspace and the social media world. We are asking to let your fingers do the talking so that those living with paralysis may have the chance to start walking!

Are you in? Let's go!

Janelle
 

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