NextStep Presents Wheelchair for a Day 2012 Challenge

LAWNDALE, Calif., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NextStep, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people living with paralysis and other physical disabilities, today announced the first annual Wheelchair for a Day challenge in a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the daily challenges associated with paralysis, and to raise funding to help build additional NextStep Fitness facilities across the United States. The official campaign takes place in May 2012 in conjunction with National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, but many volunteers have already accepted and taken the challenge. 

Wheelchair for a Day (WFD) challenges able-bodied people across America, including celebrities, athletes and other volunteers, to spend one day in a wheelchair and document their experience to share their stories through videos and photos. Each participant's journey will be posted at www.wheelchairforaday.org as well as on NextStep's official social media channels. Additionally, participants are encouraged to use the fundraising platform CrowdRise to share their stories and help raise money to support the cause. 

"More than six million people in the U.S. live with paralysis and this campaign is intended to bring much-needed attention to the lack of health and wellness resources available to those who need it most," said Janne Kouri, who founded NextStep in 2007 after he became paralyzed himself. "People of all ages around the country are eager to get involved and their time and efforts will help us revolutionize the quality of healthcare for the physically challenged community."

Participants' efforts will help NextStep in its mission to expand access to cutting edge training methods, procedures, and technologies to individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy (CP), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Parkinson's, and other neurological impairments and physical disabilities. 

NextStep, which is a member of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network (NRN), was the first community facility in the U.S. to offer Locomotor and activity-based training for people with paralysis and other physical disabilities, at its state of the art facility in Los Angeles.

Without resources like NextStep, people living with paralysis will likely suffer from secondary life threatening complications. NextStep has seen tremendous results and progress from its members, including those who are now able to stand, those who now walk with the assistance of a walker, and those who drastically improve their overall health to become independent enough to go back to work or school, drive a car, and other day to day activities.

For additional details on how to get involved with Wheelchair for a Day and to view videos from participants please visit: www.wheelchairforaday.org.

Press Contacts:
Megan Levy / Cassy Salyer
The Lippin Group
[email protected] , [email protected]

SOURCE NextStep