Paralyzed Veterans Awareness Week
Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Week, April 13-19, 2008, all Americans are being encouraged to take time out of their busy schedules to honor the continuing courage, service, and leadership of America's paralyzed veterans.
"Please do something in your community for paralyzed veterans and their families," said Randy L. Pleva, Sr., National President of Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans).
With events and activities across the country and the theme Courage to Serve, Passion to Lead, Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Week (April 13-19, 2008) highlights the unique challenges facing veterans with spinal cord injury/dysfunction. It also highlights the work of Paralyzed Veterans of America to empower seriously wounded heroes and their families with everything they need to thrive. Plus, it's also an opportunity to think, learn and support.
"Think about the unique challenges we paralyzed veterans face everyday-from having to fight for good health care to striving for a barrier-free, wheelchair accessible, nation. Learn more about Paralyzed Veterans of America, our continuing courage to serve, our passion to lead the charge for all veterans and their families, and the life-saving and life-changing results we are delivering. And please always support efforts to empower those who have served and sacrificed, help us help ourselves," Mr. Pleva stressed.
In just 61 years, Paralyzed Veterans has delivered, for all veterans, people with disabilities, and their families.
For example:
 | We've helped to increase the lifespan and quality of life of paralyzed veterans from zero to near normal. |
| We've helped lead the charge for the Americans with Disabilities Act, making our nation more accessible for everyone. |
| We've fought for and secured more than $3 billion in benefits for our brave service members and veterans. |
| We're the voice of paralyzed veterans in the White House, on Capitol Hill, and the Statehouses throughout America. |
| We pioneered wheelchair sports and, for the past 22 years, have presented-with the Department of Veterans Affairs-the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, the biggest annual wheelchair sports event in the world. |
| We've invested more than $50 million in research to find a cure for paralysis. |
| We meet all 20 standards of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance. |
This very special week in April also marks the founding of the organization just over six decades ago.
"Sixty one years ago, a band of seriously wounded brothers returned home from World War II to a grateful nation and to a world with few solutions to the new challenges they faced. These paralyzed heroes made a decision not just to live, but to live with dignity. They created Paralyzed Veterans of America: An organization built on our members' continuing courage to serve and passion to lead," Randy L. Pleva said.
Click here to go to the Awareness Week Local Event Calendar.