Dollars Will Enable Those with Paralysis to Ride Bicycles
The Memorial Foundation has received a Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation that it will use to purchase adaptive cycling equipment for the Memorial Rehabilitation Institute. The $7,384 award will buy an upright handcycle and a tandem cycle that will be available for use by those living with paralysis.
The grant was one of 79 awarded by the Reeve Foundation – totaling nearly $576,000 – to nonprofit organizations nationwide that provide opportunities, access, and daily quality of life for individuals living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers. Conceived by the late Dana Reeve, the program has awarded more than 2,700 grants worth more than $20 million since 1999.
“This funding will make it possible for more people in our area to exercise and participate in the activities of the Handcycle Club,” said RayfordShipman, manager of the Adaptive Sports and Recreation program at the Memorial Rehabilitation Institute. “We know that being active leads to significant improvement in an individual’s physical and mental state and having these bikes available will enable our participants to enjoy the fresh air and camaraderie of those overcoming similar challenges.”
Awarded twice yearly, grant requests were evaluated and scored based on a rigorous review process to determine funding for organizations that improve daily life for those living with paralysis, as well as their families and caregivers. In this particular grant cycle, .jpg)
the grantee review board awarded a significant number of grants in medically underserved areas for modification projects, animal service programs and veteran programs.
the grantee review board awarded a significant number of grants in medically underserved areas for modification projects, animal service programs and veteran programs. “Accessibility modifications and service animals help create greater independence both in home and public settings, which is key to increase inclusion in the community,” said Donna Valente, director of Quality of Life Grants. “By supporting these types of programs in underserved areas, we are able to remove barriers to independent living for individuals living with disabilities and their families.”
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grants Program was created to address the myriad needs of children and adults living with paralysis, as well as provide assistance and education to their families and caregivers. Funded programs serve individuals living with paralysis caused by injuries, diseases or birth conditions, including but not limited to, stroke, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The grants support innovative initiatives that aim to increase quality of life by improving physical and emotional health, broadening community engagement, and increasing independence. Quality of Life grants are funded through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living (cooperative agreement number 90PR3001-01-00).
About the Reeve Foundation
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. We meet all 20 of the Better Business Bureau’s standards for charity accountability and hold the BBB’s Charity Seal. The Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) is a program of the Reeve Foundation, and is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (cooperative agreement
