Unite 2 Fight Paralysis continues to champion the search for SCI cure
We were recently introduced to the Minneapolis-based Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, a non-profit organization devoted to empower the international spinal cord injury community to cure paralysis through advocacy, education, and support for research. Since Susan Maus, Betheny Winkler and Marilyn Smith co-founded it in late 2005, it has done nothing but elevate and highlight the importance of the research necessary to fight paralysis by mobilizing our community to advocate for cures and bringing key players together who can advance the best therapies as quickly as possible.
One of the powerful initiatives they undertake every year is the Working 2 Walk Science & Advocacy Symposium, bringing research scientists, practitioners, investors, SCI survivors and family members together. Since 2006, this annual conference has fostered knowledge, collaboration and power for all of the stakeholders committed to achieving a cure for spinal cord injury. This year, it will be held on Oct. 22-23 in Salt Lake City.
Another incredible service they provide is their CureCast podcasts, a series of interviews with research scientists, advocates and difference makers in the SCI community. They are conducted by Matthew Rodreick, Executive Director of U2FP and Jason Stoffer, Cure Advocacy Network Manager and host of CureCast. In our conversation with Matthew and Jason, it became apparent that spreading the word about these podcasts would help elevate the knowledge and understanding of the SCI community about the work being done throughout the world to develop cures for SCI.
And with their permission, we will begin promoting their podcasts to NorCal SCI’s audience on a regular basis with the debut of their 79-minute podcast with Dr. Melissa Miller and Jacqueline Roche from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program’s SCIRP (Spinal Cord Injury Research Program). SCIRP is a $40 million per year funding program for SCI that is of specific interest because they include people with SCI in the scientific review process. Listen to this podcast HERE.