A newsletter for new supporters of
Spinal Cord Injury BC
Welcome to SCI BC and thank you for your support. Thanks to passionate and dedicated donors like you, we are able to help people with spinal cord injuries or related disabilities – and their families – adjust, adapt and thrive in communities throughout the province.
INSIDE • The Gifford Family Story • How Your Donation Makes an Impact • Keep in Touch
About Spinal Cord Injury BC How a community was created The Canadian Paraplegic Association was born out of the ashes of WWII. Prior to the 1940’s, people with spinal cord injuries rarely survived. Soldiers returning from battle as paraplegics and quadriplegics found the physical environment at home to be unwelcoming and isolating. Nor did their family, friends and health care professionals have any real expertise or ability to truly understand what these men were going through.
A group of injured soldiers formed together and set out to create a community of “members helping members”, learning from each other – their peers – on how to meet the uphill struggle of adjusting to a new life where everything had changed, forever. Here in British Columbia, the Canadian Paraplegic Association – known today as Spinal Cord Injury BC (SCI BC) – broke down barriers preventing people with spinal cord injuries from engaging in and contributing within an “able bodied” world. Thanks to donors like you, the spirit of this post-war organization is alive and thriving.
The Gifford Family Story Visit our YouTube page to hear from Paul, Rachel and many others about the impact that SCI BC and donors like you are making in their lives.
This summer, Paul Gifford did something he thought he would never do again.
“My father doesn’t get out of his comfort zone ever, and his comfort zone for the last 35 years has been his chair and his computer,” says Rachel Allenbrand, “We went up the side of a mountain,” says Paul. “It was really exciting. The last time I went up a mountain Paul’s daughter. “He’s always talked about hiking and fishing and was 35 years ago, before I got hurt. What an advenboating, and as a little girl I always wanted to do those ture. It’s given me an opportunity to do something things with him, but we never had the ability to do it,” there’s no way I could normally do myself.” says Rachel. “It was such a milestone for him.” Paul is quadriplegic; with little to no upper body The Gifford family joined SCI BC in April 2013 and function, he uses a power wheelchair with a set of sip Rachel is now one of our most active volunteers and and puff straws to get around. This past June, he was fundraisers in the Okanagan, and Paul rarely misses one one of the 85 people who joined Spinal Cord Injury BC (SCI BC) on a camping trip for peer members and of our weekly coffee groups. “I just wish we had discovered this organization sooner!” says Rachel. their families in Fintry Provincial Park. Events like this don’t just help people with spinal Thanks to donors like you, SCI BC provided cord injuries and their families participate in new dozens of people like Paul the opportunity to reach activities, they help to break down barriers, build selfbeyond their comfort zones. They had a chance to go confidence, and create friendships and communities camping and to challenge themselves with adaptive sports like kayaking, waterskiing and hiking—in many of support that last a lifetime. None of this could be achieved without the support of donors like you. cases for the first time since they were injured.
How Your Donation Makes an Impact Our mission is to give people with spinal cord injuries or related disabilities — and their families — the connections, support and key information they need to adjust, adapt and thrive in their communities. Whether someone is dealing with a new injury, or with the ongoing challenge of living and aging with a physical disability, we’re here to help.
2012-2013 SNAPSHOT
InfoLine 1-800-689-2477 The BEST Resource for living well with a spinal cord injury in British Columbia.
Other Ways You Can Help • Become a monthly donor • Include a bequest to Spinal Cord Injury BC in your will • Make a tribute gift to recognize a special occasion or person • Volunteer at an event • Plan a workplace campaign
Charitable # 11883 5024 Registered as the Canadian Paraplegic Association (B.C.)
Maureen Brownlee
Shelley Milstein
Manager of Operations 604-326-1225 mbrownlee@sci-bc.ca
Manager of Philanthropy 604-326-1222 smilstein@sci-bc.ca
Stay in Touch To find out more about these and other ways you can help, please contact us. Shelley or Maureen will be happy to speak with you.
www.sci-bc.ca
780 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver BC Call Us: 604-324-3611 // Toll-Free: 1-877-324-3611
Twitter: @SCI_BC // Facebook: SpinalCordInjuryBC
YouTube: SpinalCordInjuryBC // LinkedIn: SpinalCordInjuryBC
These were some of our major supporters in 2012/2013. For a complete list of our supporters, please visit www.sci-bc.ca