Kirk and Melissa Ingram - GUSU (Get Up Stand Up)
Kelly Sater - Host
Kirk and Melissa Ingram shared a heart felt presentation about the foundation they are involved in, "Get Up Stand Up," an organization to research and find a cure for spinal paralysis. The vision is "a world which paralysis from spinal chord injury is curable."
Kirk, who enjoys sports - particularly watching baseball, shared how he spends his days in active recovery in rehabilitation and exercise. In addition, Melissa shared some facts that surprised many members about spinal chord injuries.
- There are 17,000 new accidents per year
- The number one cause of spinal chord injuries is car accidents
- The average age of persons who experience injury is 43 years old
Melissa and Kirk participate in a monthly peer/care giver group and as part of the GUSU organization, work to push for legislation to help fund research and to provide assistance. Current fund raising efforts are going towards creating a Regional specific resource book for the Tri-State area. The hope is to get this resource into patients hands to help them navigate the first 90 days after an injury. GOSU is working with author Sam Maddox, author of The Quest for Cure: Restoring Function After Spinal Chord Injury.
A fundraising social is set for Friday, September 14, 2019 at the Minneapolis Club. For more details on this organization and for sponsorship/donation information, visit www.gusu2cure.org.