One Year Later

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One Year Later,
Christopher Reeve's Vision Lives On

Dear ,

It's been one year since the passing of our founder, chairman and inspiration, Christopher Reeve. Yet while we have lost our visionary, his vision lives on in our work.


"It is very tempting to give up, yet we have to find the will to keep going. But even when we discover what motivates us, we realize that we can't go the distance alone."
- Christopher Reeve

To honor Christopher's legacy on the first anniversary of his death, the Christopher Reeve Foundation is reaffirming our commitment to finding cures and treatments for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders.
Today, much of the work that began under Christopher's guidance a decade ago has matured and is bearing fruit. The ability to improve the lives of millions living with paralysis is now within our grasp and CRF is working harder than ever to fulfill Christopher's vision.

In the year since Christopher's passing, the Foundation has:

Launched the North American Clinical Trials Network and the NeuroRecovery Network to help deliver effective treatments to individuals living with spinal cord injury.
Awarded new research grants to approximately 50 neuroscientists around the world who are focused on developing therapies for spinal cord repair.
Pushed the envelope on Christopher's drive to encourage and facilitate inter-laboratory collaboration.
More than doubled the traffic to the Web site of the Paralysis Resource Center, the Foundation's one-stop resource for information on living with paralysis.
Funded almost $1.8 million in Quality of Life grants to 225 nonprofit organizations worldwide that improve opportunities and access for people living with disabilities.
CRF and its advocates helped secure passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in the House of Representatives and the introduction of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Foundation launched the Christopher Reeve Foundation Superman™ tags - dog tags with the S-shield and the “Go Forward” tagline - which quickly became a trend-setting celebrity fashion accessory and helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for spinal cord injury research.
During one of Christopher Reeve’s final interviews, he told the world to “Go Forward” with strength, determination and compassion. We are committed to meeting that challenge, and to show it, we have made Go Forward the Foundation’s new slogan.

We also have a new look and new Web site that capture Christopher’s boldness and his belief that CRF really could help develop solutions to the challenges of spinal cord injury and paralysis. Look for more on what’s available at our new Web site in your next issue of Go Forward (formerly Bridging the Gap).

Together, the Foundation, loyal friends like you and everyone else touched by Christopher’s light take up where the visionary left off. Emboldened by Christopher’s personal courage and inspired by his conviction that each and every one of us can make a difference, we Go Forward in his honor and continue the journey he started.
Make a secure, online contribution in memory of Christopher Reeve.

Thank you.

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CHRISTOPHER REEVE FOUNDATION COMMEMORATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF CHRISTOPHER REEVE’S PASSING

Foundation to “Go Forward”; Vows to honor legacy and fulfill vision of former Chairman

SHORT HILLS, N.J. – October 10, 2005 – In commemoration of the first anniversary of the passing of its former Chairman of the Board, Christopher Reeve, the Christopher Reeve Foundation today reaffirmed its commitment to finding cures and treatments for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury and other central nervous system disorders.

“The Christopher Reeve Foundation (CRF) continues its important work of changing the world of paralysis,” said Kathy Lewis, President and CEO of CRF. “Since Christopher’s injury in 1995, much of the nascent research has matured and is bearing fruit, thanks to his challenge to us all to Go Forward. The ability to improve the lives of millions living with paralysis is within our grasp and the Foundation remains committed to seeing Christopher’s vision become reality.”

In the year since Christopher’s passing:

• CRF launched two exciting initiatives to help deliver effective treatments to individuals living with spinal cord injury: the North American Clinical Trials Network and the NeuroRecovery Network

• CRF awarded new research grants to an international cadre of approximately 50 neuroscientists who are focused on developing therapies for spinal cord repair. The awards were made through the Foundation’s Individual Grants Program, its International Consortium on Spinal Cord Injury and its Translational Research Fund

• Using a variety of creative funding mechanisms in its Consortium and Individual Grants programs, CRF has pushed the envelope on Reeve’s drive to encourage and facilitate inter-laboratory collaboration

• The Paralysis Resource Center, the Foundation’s one-stop resource for information on living with paralysis, has seen over two times the traffic on its website

• CRF has funded almost $1.8 million in Quality of Life grants to 225 nonprofit organizations worldwide

• CRF and its advocates helped secure passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act in the House of Representatives and the introduction of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act in the Senate and the House of Representatives

• The Foundation launched the Christopher Reeve Foundation Superman™ tags - dog tags with the S-shield and the “Go Forward” tagline - which quickly became a trend-setting celebrity fashion accessory and helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for spinal cord injury research

The new look of the Foundation as reflected in its logo, website (www.ChristopherReeve.org) and tagline is intended to capture Christopher’s boldness and belief that CRF really could help develop solutions to the challenges of spinal cord injury and paralysis.

Lewis added, “Our new slogan, ‘Go Forward,’ is Chris’s mandate to us all to continue the journey he began. We are doing just that with renewed strength and determination.”

Peter Kiernan III, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors added, “Chris’s death signaled the time for all of us to take our place in leading his vision to reality. His courage and conviction left us all with an abiding faith in every person’s ability to make an important difference. We GO FORWARD because it is the responsibility of everyone touched by this remarkable man to carry on the work of the Foundation. We owe him and each other that much. And that lesson may be the finest legacy a man can leave.”

The Christopher Reeve Foundation is dedicated to finding treatments and cures for spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the lives of people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. For more information, please visit www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.

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Robert Mulcahy: Go Forward


My name is Bob and I was spinal cord injured when I dove into a pool. I remember floating faced down and I saw my shadow on the bottom of the pool and I thought to myself that I looked liked superman flying. It was the most intense electrical feeling radiating throughout my entire body. I deeply miss the fluidity and spontaneity of life and the movement of the body and everything attached to that.

When Christopher Reeve passed away, I was deeply saddened. Here’s this person who took the bull by the horns and seemed to have all this energy and really used his voice for the greater good. Everyone felt lost. That’s why, today, it’s more important then ever to Go Forward. Inspired my Christopher, I found strength within myself to make the important and personal choice on how to live my life.

We just can’t sit back and expect something to be done. We need to use our voice even more now. What does the Christopher Reeve Foundation mean to me? It means being able to Go Forward with your voice and your body to effect change. That’s why I am an advocate for the Foundation. For me, I know I’ll be ok, all my dreams before my injury will be accomplished, in a different way, but they will be accomplished. I share my story to help the Foundation and others Go Forward.

[dogger]

Christopher Reeve was a great man and did a magnificent job of championing the SCI cause . Today my thoughts are with Dana and family .

Dogger

[Susan M]

Very nice, Bob. Excellent message. Thank you for all you are doing.

Cheesecake--Thx for posting.

Christopher Reeve was larger than life. A great example of what is possible. His legacy will continue to live on and inspire many of us to "Go Forward", dig in our heels and fight harder.

Susan

[joasia]

To honor Christopher Reeve’s life and his contribution to SCI movement here in US and around the world, I wore close to my heart “Go Forward “ tag all day today. During this day, I was especially thankful for his contribution; I remember that day when he was no longer with us physically, and I would never think that just a little over two months after his death my only son will need so much what was accomplished by Christopher. Especially today, my thoughts and prayers are with Dana and Will…