A Step Toward Hope To Host Second Annual Fall Fundraiser Oct. 12

MOORESTOWN, N.J. - Sept. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY – A Step Toward Hope, the charitable arm of Miles Technologies headquartered here, invites the Delaware Valley community to celebrate Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at McFadden’s at Citizen’s Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way, Philadelphia, Pa. The event will raise funds to benefit three regional men – Jim Sebest, Harry Storz and Stephen Seder – currently living with paralysis following three separate accidents in recent years.

Chris Miles, CEO of Miles Technologies, founded A Step Toward Hope in 2004 to provide assistance to individuals and families living with paralysis and other neurological disorders in South Jersey and surrounding communities.

“We extend a sincere invitation to the entire Delaware Valley region to join us on October 12 for a night of community, support, laughter and fun to celebrate the strength and inspirational courage of three amazing men and their families,” Miles shares. “We hope to welcome more than 400 people to our event this year and we hope to raise funds that can really make a difference for the Sebest, Storz and Seder families.”

With its Oktoberfest event, A Step Toward Hope honors the tenacity, strength and heroic spirit of Sebest, Storz and Seder - three inspirational men with strong roots in the Delaware Valley region.

Stephen Seder: Family and friends are rallying around a 1996 Deptford High School graduate suffering from a recent spinal injury. Stephen Seder, 35, was swimming at a beach in North Carolina on July 27 when he hit his head on a sandbar. The accident damaged several vertebrae in his neck, leaving him almost completely paralyzed. Now, Stephen and his finance, Mandy Stroud, are dealing with their new reality as Stephen recovers. The couple, who have two children, is also dealing with enormous medical bills and escalating care costs. Doctors initially told Stephen that he would spend the rest of his life as a paraplegic. He rejects that prognosis - continuing to work around the clock to regain at least some of his mobility. Stephen shares: “I’m shooting high, I’m working hard. I’ve got a lot of people behind me, and I promised them I’m going to fight.”

Jim Sebest: In August 2010, Jim Sebest, a father of two, took his family to vacation at Bethany Beach, Del., and, being the very physical person that he is, was out playing in the waves. Jim dove under a wave and hit the ocean floor. His wife, Andi, had to pull him out of the waves. Lifeguards performed CPR. While not completely severed, Jim's spinal cord was injured to the point that he has very little movement below the neck since his accident, and was unable to breathe without a ventilator for the longest time. Jim, in his early 40s, suffered a broken vertebra in his neck and bruising in his spinal column. Obviously, the events of Aug. 26, 2010 have been life changing for the Sebest family, but Jim’s tenacity is prevailing and progress is being made in aqua therapy and even participation in Project Walk. Jim, Andi and their two children reside in Lancaster, Pa. Contributions by A Step Toward Hope enabled Jim to spend one month at Project Walk in Califorinia earlier this year.

Harry Storz: An avowed Eagles and Flyers fan with a love for fixing cars and tackling anything mechanical, Harry Storz was riding his beloved 1995 Harley-Davidson DynaGlade motorcycle on June 20, 2011 at the intersection of Aramingo and Oxford avenues in Philadelphia when a young driver careened across four lanes of traffic and struck him. Harry was unresponsive at the scene. Taken to Hahnemann University Hospital, Harry was in a coma for two weeks. Doctors told his family that most crash victim’s in Harry’s condition would likely have been killed. He sustained a broken neck, fractured jaw, punctured lung, fractured ribs and fractures to both arms and wrists. During his time in the hospital, Harry suffered two full cardiac arrests. Today, Harry lives with his devoted parents, Harry and Kathleen Storz of Cape May County. A quadriplegic, Harry, father of three sons, faces each day with hope as he remains in the loving care of his parents.

To purchase tickets to the event or to make a donation, visit www.asteptowardhope.org  To sponsor the event or to speak with a member of the Miles Technologies team regarding A Step Toward Hope, call (800) 496-8001. Visit Miles Technologies at www.milestechnologies.com. To learn more about A Step Toward Hope, visit www.asteptowardhope.org.