Walk4 - Spinal Cord Injury Cure - W. M. Keck Center - Rutgers University

It’s halftime and the stadium is charged with energy. There is a calm quiet as our Celebrity prepares to take the first step in a walk to push Matthew over tee shirts that have been laid out in front of them. With each momentous step, our Celebrity’s footprints, along with Matt’s wheelchair treads, are imprinted on the shirts. These shirts, forever documenting this brief moment, will raise spinal cord awareness and funds long after this event. The crowd is left moved and inspired because a hero has sent an empowering message that we are committed to restoring the ability to walk again.

Matthew Valente, quadriplegic for the past 6 years due to an accident, and his former high schoolphysics teacher, Carlos Rodriguez, have teamed up to create awareness tee shirts and fundraise for a spinal cord injury cure. Dr. Wise Young leads a team of researchers at The Spinal Cord Injury Project of Rutgers University with the focus on a cure for spinal cord injury. It is the SCI Projects' goal to be able to carry Clinical trials here in the United States.

Matthew and other paralyzed individuals live with the knowledge that there isn’t a cure as of yet. However, Matt, who was a high school star wrestler, has the potential to walk again with the aid of The Spinal Cord Injury Project.

The Rutgers University Foundation is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization.