The Spinal Cord Injury happened in an instant, and doctors said it would last a lifetime - but not if Lou Sengheiser has anything to say about it.
Sengheiser, founder of the nonprofit organization Gateway to a Cure, is working to fund Spinal Cord Injury research in hopes of finding a cure - not only for his son Jason, but also for hundreds of thousands of Americans.
Launched in 1996, when doctors told Jason that the main barrier to progress was a lack of funding, today Gateway to a Cure is spearheading the largest national raffle ever. Prizes include homes, cars and cash prizes, such as a $3.3 million property in Orlando, Fla., with three cars. Net proceeds from the raffle will fund research.
In 1994, 17-year-old Jason broke his neck. He survived but became a quadriplegic. Yet he wouldn't let that stop him from achieving his dreams.
"Living in depression wasn't an option," says Jason, who graduated on time with his high school class in 1995. "The only option was and still is to be positive."
Now 28, he completed college with honors, finished law school and is one of three Americans pursuing his Masters of Law in a Columbia University graduate program. He interns with a judge and aspires to work for an international organization like the United Nations. Jason rides his hand-crank bike 50 miles a week and enjoys an active social life in New York City.
Through Gateway to a Cure, Lou has devoted his time to helping the estimated 500,000 Americans living with Spinal Cord Injuries, including his son Jason, to walk again.
Someone suffers from this type of injury every 49 minutes, with 82 percent being male. Doctors are working to reconnect healthy tissue, and full restoration of function continues to be the ultimate goal.
For more information or to purchase raffle tickets, call (866) 995-CURE (2873) or visit www.gatewaytoacure.org. - NU |
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