Paralyzed Patients to Walk in ReWalkers: New Cutting Edge Technology

The 5th Annual Long Island Run For The Warriors® will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012. This year, participants will be joined by two ReWalkers who will utilize new cutting edge technology to complete the 1-Mile Walk event.
 
Oct. 3, 2012 - PRLog -- Community Race Honors Wounded and Families of the Fallen
Paralyzed Patients to Walk in ReWalkers:  New Cutting Edge Technology

WEST BABYLON, NY, September 26, 2012 – The 5th Annual Long Island Run For The Warriors® will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012.  Each year, this race is completed by nearly 2,000 runners and walkers from Long Island, all who honor and support the sacrifices of our nation’s heroes.  This year, participants will be joined by two ReWalkers who will utilize new cutting edge technology to complete the 1-Mile Walk event.

The ReWalkers are participants of the Spinal Cord Damage Research Center at the James J Peters VA Medical Center in Bronx, NY.  The ReWalk is a robot-assisted exoskeleton.  Use of the ReWalk permits a person with motor-complete paraplegia to stand, walk over ground and to ascend/descend stairs. The system weighs 45 pounds and includes a footplate, strapping mechanisms for the legs, hips and trunk, robotic exoskeletons on each lateral leg, a backpack which stores the batteries and computer and a remote control system on a wrist band. The ReWalk participant uses arm crutches to maintain balance during standing and walking.  

The two ReWalkers will participate in the 1-Mile Walk and this will be the first time each participates in this type of an event utilizing the exoskeleton-assisted walking device.

One of the participants is Theresa Hannigan, a former Army Sergeant who served during the Vietnam era and was left paralyzed 2 years ago as a result of a progressive autoimmune disease which she contracted while in the Army.  Hannigan has been training with the ReWalk at the National Center of Excellence for the Medical Consequences of Spinal Cord Injury at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY.  She plans to use the exoskeleton walk the 1-Mile road race to raise money for the organization Hope For The Warriors®.

“Come out and cheer me on and raise hope for my fellow Warriors as I reWalk this mile.  Please help the cause by donating in my name,” said Hannigan.

To donate to this cause, visit www.hopeforthewarriors.org/longislandrun and choose “Sponsor Participant.”  

They will be joined by wounded service members and veterans, families of the fallen, local government officials, and thousands from within the community.  The event will begin with a ceremony, honoring the sacrifices of wounded service members and the fallen.

The race will be held at the Town Hall of Babylon in Lindenhurst, NY.  Participants may choose to run or walk in the 10K, 5K or the 1-Mile Walk/Run.  All funds raised with benefit Hope For The Warriors® a national nonprofit organizations that assists combat wounded service members, their families and families of the fallen.

Registration is $25 per person with special pricing for veterans and students.  Active duty military, spouses and children of active duty military, and Gold Star Families are free.  (ID must be presented at Packet Pickup.)  Children 10 and under are also free.  Register today or learn more by visiting:  www.hopeforthewarriors.org/longislandrun.  

“The Run For The Warriors® began as a means of honoring wounded service members and families of the fallen,” Jack Caffey, Jr., Long Island Run For The Warriors® Race Director said.  “This year with both wounded service members and the ReWalkers participating, the race will also be a celebration of reaching new physical goals and overcoming challenges.”

Morning Schedule:
   9:00 a.m.   Opening Ceremony
   9:30 a.m.   5K start
   9:45 a.m.   10K start
   10:00 a.m.   1-Mile Walk/Run start
   11:30 a.m.   Closing Ceremony and Awards

All proceeds will benefit Hope For The Warriors®, a national nonprofit organization that assists combat wounded service members, their families, and families of the fallen.  Hope For The Warriors® thanks Presenting Sponsors Local 338 and the Town of Babylon for making this event possible. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.  Contact Jack Caffey, Jr. (jcaffey@hopeforthewarriors.org) to learn more.

The mission of Hope For the Warriors® is to enhance the quality of life for post-9/11 service members, their families, and families of the fallen who have sustained physical and psychological wounds in the line of duty. Hope For The Warriors® is dedicated to restoring a sense of self, restoring the family unit, and restoring hope for our service members and our military families.

Hope For The Warriors® has earned a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org), an independent organization that evaluates fiscal responsibility and accountability of nonprofits.


Hope For The Warriors® (Federal Tax ID 20-5182295) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity as defined in sections 509(A)(1) and 170(B)(1)(A)(VI) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Combined Federal Campaign, CFC #27800.
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