Patrick Rummerfield Teams with Eric Westacott Foundation and Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to Help Young Quadriplegic Boy The Eric Westacott Foundation announced today that it has teamed with Patrick Rummerfield, the first fully functional quadriplegic in history, and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to donate the proceeds of the upcoming Golf Classic Tournament to the rehabilitation of an 11-year old quadriplegic boy from Ohio. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation have also stepped in to donate a state of the art Functional Electrical Stimulus (FES) bike and tilt-table donated by Lorraine V and Chris Reyling. St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) July 30, 2009 The Eric Westacott Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the study and cure of spinal cord injuries (SCI), announced today that it has teamed with Patrick Rummerfield, the first fully functional quadriplegic in history, and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to donate the proceeds of the upcoming Golf Classic Tournament to the rehabilitation of 11-year old quadriplegic Alex Malarkey and provide young Alex with a state of the art RT300 Functional Electrical Stimulus (FES) bike and tilt-table donated by Lorraine V and Chris Reyling. The Huntsville, Ohio resident was involved in a car accident in 2004, while riding home from church with his father. Alex sustained serious neck injuries as the result of the car accident, which left him paralyzed from the neck down and has been confined to a wheelchair and ventilator since the accident. Patrick Rummerfield, who has known Alex since shortly after his accident, decided to help him in his quest for rehabilitation by putting the family in contact with the Eric Westacott and Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundations. Alex will be traveling from Ohio with his parents, Kevin and Beth Malarkey, to enjoy the 16th Annual Eric Westacott Foundation "Golf Classic". "This is a very special trip for the Malarkey family," commented Eric Westacott, President of the Eric Westacott Foundation. "Not only is Alex coming to St. Louis to receive some much needed help, but this will also be the Malarkey's first family trip ever!" As a spinal cord injured person himself, Mr. Westacott knows the challenges faced by SCIs, and the need for a consistent, focused rehabilitation regimen. The Foundation, which is run on a completely volunteer basis, has raised over $250,000.00 for spinal cord research since its creation, in 2002. In addition to the proceeds of the Golf Classic tournament, the Eric Westacott Foundation has also arranged for the receipt and transfer to the Malarkey's Ohio home of an RT300, a Functional Electrical Stimulus (FES) bike, and tilt-table, donated by the family of Lorraine Valentini, a fierce bike rider, strong mentor and winner of a gold medal at the USA Cycling Masters Road National Championship, in the 1980s, who passed on in July, 2009. The RT300 FES bike is designed to send electrical impulses to electrodes placed on the patient's muscles, causing the muscles to contract and - essentially - perform a workout. The use of RT300 FES bikes provides people with spinal cord injuries many benefits, including prevention of muscle loss, muscle strengthening, improved circulation, and cardiovascular exercise. The transfer was made possible thanks to the help of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. "Chris and Lorraine contacted the Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center when Lorraine was spinal cord injured for information and resources," commented Joseph Canose, Vice President of Quality of Life at the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. "We were pleased to be able to assist them and developed a relationship over the years. Lorraine's injury was the same level as Christopher Reeve's and she received a piece of Christopher's equipment after he passed away." Canose continued, "After Lorraine's passing, her family chose to donate Lorraine's equipment to another family with a child who had a similar injury. The Reeve Foundation's Paralysis Resource Center matched them with Alex Malarkey, also dependent on a ventilator and someone who has also received assistance from our highly trained information specialists." Alex made history in January 2009, at the age of 10, by becoming the youngest patient to undergo a surgical procedure that replaced the breathing unit he once was forced to use (weighing over 200 lbs) with a much smaller and lighter one. This surgery has allowed adult quadriplegics to sail solo and skydive. "We are very grateful to the Eric Westacott Foundation for this opportunity," said Beth Malarkey, upon hearing of the invitation that the Foundation had extended to Alex and his family. "Alex has never had a chance to participate in concentrated rehabilitation. This bike is something he really needed for a long time, and we're just so touched that Alex will get a fair shot and rehabilitation." The 16th Annual Eric Westacott Foundation Golf Classic will take place at Gateway National, in Madison, IL on August 1. Shotgun start will be 12:30pm. About Patrick Rummerfield
About Eric Westacott
About the Reeve Foundation
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