¦ August 11, 2009
WORKING 2 WALK CONFERENCE, CHICAGO 8/28-8/29/2009
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis, Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation Collaborate To Present Working 2 Walk Conference

CHICAGO (August 11, 2009) – The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is pleased to announce its partnership with Unite 2 Fight to present the 4th Annual Working 2 Walk (W2W) Conference on August 28th and 29th at The Hyatt Lodge at McDonald's Campus in Chicago. 

Working 2 Walk, which has moved its conference from Washington D.C., offers a unique opportunity for those with spinal cord injuries and their families to come together and learn about new research and progresses being made toward curative therapies from scientists and researchers.  Leaders in the SCI advocacy community will also lead brainstorming sessions to develop strategies going forward.

“It is not only encouraging for people living with paralysis to hear first hand from researchers and practitioners, but it is inspiring for the scientists to meet patients and hear their stories, questions and concerns,” said Ida Cahill, President of The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.   “We are very happy to have this opportunity to participate in this year’s Working 2 Walk event.”

The two-day conference will feature today’s prominent spinal cord injury research scientists, including Drs. Stephen Davies, Peter Gorman, Steven R. Hinderer, Philip Horner, Douglas Kerr, Naomi Kleitman, John McDonald, Edward Nieshoff, and Wise Young.

“When the research community comes together with grassroots members of the paralysis community, amazing things happen," said said Dr. Hans Keirstead, a leading research scientist using human embryonic stem cells who is actively involved in Unite 2 Fight.  “The group’s successes in Washington D.C. speak for themselves, from the passage of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act to federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.”

The conference will conclude on Saturday, August 29th with a Day at the Races at Chicagoland Speedway, hosted by the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.  With some of the best positioning on the race track, attendees will get the VIP treatment of being behind the scenes at the racetrack and getting to meet the drivers, tour the pit, see the racecars up close, and just have fun. 

“Even if someone doesn’t consider themselves a racing fan, it’s hard not to feel the passion and the excitement of the energy at the racetrack,” said Sam Schmidt, Founder the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.

Tickets to Working 2 Walk conference are $125 per person and include all general and breakout sessions as well as breakfast and lunch for the two-day symposium.  There is no charge for personal assistants, and registration fee grants are available to those who demonstrate financial need.

For more information or to register for the event, visit http://www.working2walk.org.

About The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation
The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (SSPF) was started in 2000 by Indy Racing League driver Sam Schmidt shortly after a practice-run crash left him paralyzed from the chest down.  SSPF is leading the charge to cure paralysis by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances, benefiting stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.  In addition to initiating local and national advocacy efforts on behalf of those disabled, SSPF funds various quality of life grants to organizations, provides college scholarships for people with spinal cord injuries/paralysis, and funds the national Day at the Races program.  The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation is a member of the Spinal Cord Leaders Council. 

Sam Schmidt was recently recognized by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation with the 2008 Visionary Leader Award, because of his dedication and commitment to funding research and bettering the lives of those who are paralyzed. 

 Jennifer Avrhami
Sam Schmidt / Mindspace
480-941-8497 ext 119
[email protected]


Marilyn Smith
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis
888-202-1992
[email protected]