January 21, 2004, ST. LOUIS -- The NextSteps Foundation has donated $35,000 to the Spinal Cord Injury Fund at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Patrick Rummerfield, the St. Louis-based organization''s co-founder, has the distinction of being the world''s first fully functional spinal cord injury quadriplegic.
In 1974, he was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. But three years later, Rummerfield was walking and using his hands. Today, he spends his time helping others with spinal cord injury and finding ways to fund research efforts. As director of performance improvement at the Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis, he works closely with John McDonald, MD, PhD, director of the spinal cord injury program at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the Rehabilitation Institute. Dr. McDonald, a world-renowned pioneer in spinal cord injury research and treatment, offers hope to actor Christopher Reeve and countless others with his breakthrough treatment.
"I was very pleased with the generous donation," says McDonald. "As always, these donations help promote research and treatment options for individuals with spinal cord injuries. NextSteps Foundation should be commended on their efforts to help others in similar situations and bringing public attention to spinal cord injuries."
Rummerfield founded the NextSteps Foundation in 1996. Its sole purpose is to raise money for spinal cord injury research and to help people who can''t afford rehabilitation or equipment. His fund-raising efforts have included securing sponsorship for running in the Los Angeles Marathon and a trek to the South Pole. "Utilizing these unconventional ways to raise money for spinal cord injury research is what I think is needed in order for cutting-edge research to move forward," says Rummerfield. "It is crucial to find different avenues for raising funds."
His newest endeavor will bring his two passions together: racing and spinal cord research. As a driver in the Indy Racing League, he hopes to attract contributions and sponsorship from Fortune 500 companies that can then be turned into donations from NextSteps Foundation.
Contributions to the NextSteps Foundation can be sent to: c/o Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, 165 North Meramec, 6th Floor, St. Louis, MO 63105. To make a donation to the Spinal Cord Injury Research Fund at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, contact the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation at (314) 286-0600.