Spinal Cord Injuryor disease can happen to anyone at any time and the
effectscan be devastating. Ifound this outpersonallywhen Iwas thrown
from the back ofa pick up truck at age 15 was left paralyzed from the
waistdown. It was during my recuperation as a young teenager that I
first gained insight into the importance ofrehabilitation. My family,
doctors, nurses, fellow patients and researchers who were dedicated to
helping me over- come my personal tragedy helped me pull through. Today,
rehabilita- tion medicine is taking great strides and empowering the
person with the injury to take control oftheir future, overcome their
setbacks and, through collaborativesupport, reach their personal goals
and potential. Since 1987 the Legacy raised by my Man in Motion World
Tour (24901 miles wheeled around the world March 1985-May 1987) has pro-
vided over $13 million dollars to research and rehabilitation in the
areas of spinal cord injury. I hope that in some small way this funding
has contributed to the development ofthe vital programmes that supported
me andmanyothers. The effects ofspinal cord injury are traumatic and
life-shattering and require a skilled interdisciplinary approach. I
congratulate those who have contributed to this book and challenge each
one ofyou to never give up on yourdreams to find the answers to the
optimum treatment of spinal cord injuryand disease.
