Unite 2 Fight Paralysis Launches Bridges 2 Hope Project
Submit your story by November 9 for inclusion in the CRPA advocacy booklet presented to committee chairs!
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis
invites all persons whose lives are affected by paralysis to submit
their stories for inclusion in the
"Bridges 2 Hope Project".
See the story of Patrick Ivison on the right for an example. It
takes only a few minutes to make your voice heard in the effort to
reach a cure!
Bridges 2 Hope is an outgrowth of the enormously moving and
effective "Wall of Hope" on display at last spring's Working 2 Walk
Symposium & Rally in Washington, DC. In addition to hosting a
slideshow of these stories on their website, U2FP plans to print
hard-copy editions for use as an advocacy tool in the effort to
further research toward a cure for paralysis.
Bridges 2 Hope offers patients, their family members, and
supporters an opportunity to participate in the advocacy effort
without having to travel or spend any money (limiting factors for
those living with paralysis). By sharing their personal stories and
photos, participants add a persuasive human touch to the financial
and statistical data presented to decision makers.
U2FP's immediate goal is to gather enough submissions for its
November lobbying effort on behalf of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis
Act. The CRPA has languished in Congress since 2002 and is long
overdue for passage. A team of advocates plans to meet with
Congressional leaders in mid-November and hopes to present a Bridges
2 Hope booklet to each.
Please share this information with your friends, family,
constituents, anyone you know who cares about improving the lives of
those who live with paralysis. By sharing their stories, they can
make a difference on the grander scale.
For more information on Unite 2 Fight Paralysis and Bridges 2
Hope visit our
home page.
Patrick Ivison
Age 11 San Diego, CA C4/C5 Incomplete
DOI 9-25-1995 at 14 months old
Patrick was hit by a car as a small child and suffered a spinal
cord injury. He and his mom were walking behind a car and the driver
was arguing with his girlfriend and backed up suddenly, running
Patrick over.
Patrick's motto is to "focus on my abilities not my disability."
He spends 3 days a week in an intense rehabilitation program trying
to regain the use of his legs.
