Neuroworx Partners with Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for Peer & Family Support Program

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Feb 07, 2013, 11:37 ET

Goal is to expand mentoring of those living with paralysis in the Intermountain West

SHORT HILLS, N.J., Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation today announced it has partnered with Neuroworx in Salt Lake City, Utah to help launch the Reeve Foundation's Peer & Family Support Program (PFSP) in the state. By teaming with Neuroworx, which has been providing mentoring since 2004, both organizations will work toward expanding mentoring across the state of Utah and the Intermountain West. The PFSP is a national peer-to-peer mentoring program that utilizes the real life experiences of those that are thriving while living with paralysis.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100511/REEVELOGO)

The mission of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's PFSP is to provide critical emotional encouragement, as well as, local and national information and resources to people living with paralysis, and their families and caregivers. Mentors empower people living with paralysis, including our service men and women, their families and caregivers, to achieve a healthy and full life.

This program matches people seeking assistance with a Reeve Foundation Certified Mentor who will be of similar age, gender, level of injury, ethnicity and location when possible. Throughout the process both the client and the Reeve Mentor will have access to all of the resources the Reeve Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center has to offer.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome Neuroworx to our Peer & Family Support Program," said Steve Coleman, Vice President, Peer & Family Support Program for the Reeve Foundation. "The partnership will continue to expand the Reeve Foundation's efforts to reach the broader paralysis community in need."

Neuroworx has already experienced the benefit of a mentoring environment. Sam is a 66 year old former high school teacher and coach who sustained a spinal cord injury which resulted in quadriplegia paralysis in 2010. As he began his physical therapy, he was overwhelmed with his loss of function and found it difficult to not be discouraged. Various patients at Neuroworx provided inspiration, education, and most importantly, real life examples of individuals making progress. Sam credits much of his recovery, both physically and mentally, to the opportunity he had to meet and interact with others who understood what he was going through. Sam has volunteered to act as the coordinator for the Neuroworx PFSP partnership as a liaison between the staff and clients and the PFSP staff. He accepted this role to make sure as many people as possible can benefit from the positive experience of mentoring, just like he did.

"It is incredibly difficult for individuals and their families to face the challenges brought on by paralysis," said Dr. Dale Hull, Executive Director of Neuroworx. "Having someone to call on for advice, assistance, and direction can make a tremendous difference in the lives of those struggling to find answers and move forward with life. We watch it every day, people need people."

The Reeve Foundation and Neuroworx are actively recruiting new clients: people living with paralysis, family members and caregivers who are in need of guidance by a Certified Mentor. The benefits of talking to a Certified Mentor include a clear understanding of the realities of paralysis, how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, confidence building and motivation, understanding of the science and progress in research of paralysis, how to avoid secondary conditions, and more.

For more information, please visit ChristopherReeve.org/peer or email [email protected].

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Award No. 1U59DD000838. For more information, please visit our website at www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-539-7309.

About Neuroworx

Neuroworx is a licensed, community-based, outpatient physical therapy facility providing focused and innovative rehabilitation for individuals experiencing paralysis from spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, stroke and similar neurological conditions. It is a qualified 501 (c) 3 charitable organization. Neuroworx was established in 2004. For more information, please visit www.neuroworx.org or call 801-619-3670.

SOURCE Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation