MIAMI, April 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nick and Marc Buoniconti, in conjunction with The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, the fundraising arm of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, have announced a partnership with Permobil, a world leader in the wheelchair industry, to jointly promote mobility and paralysis research awareness.

For more than 28 years Marc Buoniconti, President of The Buoniconti Fund, has been in a wheelchair as the result of a paralyzing spinal cord injury (SCI) while playing college football.  Having been one of the first 100 people to receive a Permobil wheelchair following his accident, Marc credits his Permobil experience with changing his life and allowing him to regain his mobility and travel the world sharing his story and talking about The Buoniconti Fund and the research they support at The Miami Project.

"Having lived the majority of my life in a wheelchair, I know the challenges we face each and every day.  Having used Permobil exclusively since my injury, I am proud to endorse Permobil products because their durability and reliability are truly extraordinary. The partnership between The Buoniconti Fund and Permobil, two leaders in their respective fields, can only enhance awareness of our joint mission of helping to move people who suffer debilitation accidents and conditions," said Marc Buoniconti.

The partnership will include promoting the need for research and development into the problem of paralysis and other devastating neurological disorders.  The agreement will also include the need to educate people about reliable mobility devices and allow for The Buoniconti Fund to periodically donate Permobil wheelchairs to needy individuals.

Marc Buoniconti will be available at a meet and greet at Permobil's display area at the New York Metro Abilities Expo May 2nd and 3rd at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center.

The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis - In 1985, Barth A. Green, M.D. and NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti helped found The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis after Nick's son, Marc, sustained a spinal cord injury during a college football game. Today, The Miami Project is the world's most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center, and a designated Center of Excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.  The Miami Project's international team is housed in the Lois Pope LIFE Center and includes more than 300 scientists, researchers, clinicians and support staff who take innovative approaches to the challenges of brain and spinal cord injury.

Committed to finding a cure for paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury and to seeing millions worldwide walk again, the Buoniconti family established The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis in 1992, a non-profit organization devoted to assisting The Miami Project achieve its national and international goals.

The Miami Project's Christine E. Lynn Clinical Trials Initiative is designed to take discoveries found to be successful in laboratory studies and fast track them to human studies.  Our FDA approved Schwann cell transplantation trial, the only one of its kind in the world, is changing the spinal cord injury field and sets an important foundation for future Miami Project cell replacement therapies.

Miami Project researchers are conducting or participating in more than ten clinical trials for spinal cord and brain injuries, and have more than a dozen clinical research studies underway. Because of our clinical and research expertise, The Miami Project is confident that we have the knowledge and resolve to initiate additional clinical trials that will help us continue to responsibly and safely take these important steps into humans.

About Permobil - Permobil has been committed to enhancing the lives of the physically challenged for over 40 years. Founded in Sweden, Permobil has its North American headquarters in Lebanon, Tenn. More information regarding the company's storied history and complete product line may be obtained at www.permobil.com.

Contact: Scott Roy, 305-243-8939 or sroy@miami.edu

SOURCE The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis