Press Release

Spinal Cord Injury Association of Kentucky
Louisville , KY

Cindy Norton, President of the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Kentucky and Friends For Michael, Inc. Spinal Cord Injury Organization, talks about Christopher Reeve and his contributions to the fight for a cure for spinal cord injury and disease.

“This has been a trying few days...Christopher Reeve was such An important and special advocate for Spinal Cord Research. He brought the awareness to the world that spinal cord research would help do so much to cure so many diseases...not just spinal cord injury! He touched so many lives...so many he never even knew. With his determination...he gave so much hope. With his faith...he gave so much more!!! With his love...he gave!! In part because of being a famous actor...but mainly...because he was the type of person that didn't give up and cared about others so much.”

"In meeting Christopher at the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation Fundraising event in May, 2003...I found out first hand what an awesome person he was! He had such a big heart...as if he really was "Superman" and wanted to help so many people, not just himself." “He struggled to do all the things he did from day to day. It’s hard for anyone to imagine what he went through day after day to accomplish the feats he accomplished.”

"For some reason, I had one of those sleepless nights on Sunday night...turned on the television around 5 am...and the first thing I heard was that Christopher Reeve, "Superman", had died at the age of 52…due to complications from a pressure sore...which was caused by his paralysis. The news of his death really took me back. Being 5 am in the morning and all alone gave me time to think about all the things he has done over the last 9 1/2 years since his injury in May 1995. It made me realize how fragile life is. We tend to think that money is everything....well...apparently it is NOT!! If it was, Christopher would be alive today. He had the best of technology, the best of medicine, the best of doctors and therapists, the best equipment money could buy, a loving family and many friends and supporters...but the best thing he had was a strong desire to help not only himself...but others. His death, as a result from his paralysis, only goes to show that we need to work harder and faster for a cure for paralysis. To find a cure we need funds...funds that can be raised by all."

"We definitely need a bigger awareness in the state of Kentucky for spinal cord research." Norton continued, "We have one of the finest and few research centers in the world...right here at the University of Louisville Spinal Cord Injury Research Center . We have some of the greatest physicians and scientists in the world at the research center with Dr. Scott Whittemore and staff. We can have all these things...but without the funding we cannot move forward. We need your help!!"

You can find out more about how you can help support spinal cord research and about the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Kentucky (SCIAK), Friends For Michael, Inc. Spinal Cord Injury Organization and the Spinal Cord Injury Research Center by linking to http://www.sciak.org. or http://www.friendsformichael.org/ .

"Many people do not even realize that these groups exist. We do several fundraisers throughout the year, along with several other groups, such as the Kentucky Wheelchair Athletes, Derby City NSCIA, etc." We do need everyone's support, whether it is participating in our events, becoming a member of SCIAK, or just giving to the cause! Ways to do this and to contact these associations are listed on the websites as well. Once again...Christopher Reeve is going to bring spinal cord research to the fore front..not only with his life...but with his untimely death." Norton expressed. "Keep the Reeve family in your prayers.....keep all spinal cord injury and disease survivors and family in your prayers...keep all those that are working so hard to raise funds for research in your prayers....keep all those that are working to find a cure in your prayers...this is a difficult time for all!”

Cindy Norton
President Friends For Michael, Inc. Spinal Cord Injury Org.
http://www.friendsformichael.org/

President Spinal Cord Injury Assoc. of KY
www.sciak.org

P.O. Box 212
Campbellsburg , KY 40011
502-532-7071 (home)
502-396-3214 (cell)