Summer 2024 Chapter Update
Our chapter has been busy this summer! Thank you to our chapter members who joined us at the Car Show and Cook out in June, and to those who participated in our 2024 Community Event Ticket Program. If you haven’t had the chance to join one of our events yet this year, we have several events to come. We have a lineup of engaging events and initiatives planned to continue serving the spinal cord injury community across Northeast Ohio. Stay tuned for details below, and be sure to check our calendar or Facebook page for updates.
Upcoming Events
27th Annual SCI Forum – Saturday, September 28
Join us for MetroHealth’s 27th Annual SCI Forum on Saturday, September 28, from 9am to 2:30pm, at the MetroHealth’s main campus. The SCI forum is an educational conference designed to provide valuable resources, engaging discussions, and support for the SCI community. You won’t want to mis this year’s forum, which features a keynote from Joci Scot with the LA Rollettes Wheelchair Dance Team. We have a great agenda planned, with topics ranging across travelling with an SCI, adaptive surgeries and technology, and more. Find the agenda and registration link here.
5th Annual ‘A Night of Trivia’ Fundraiser – Saturday, November 16
Save the date for a night of friendly competition and fundraising at our 5th Annual ‘A Night of Trivia’ event. This will be our third in-person fundraiser. While the 2022 fundraiser was hard to beat, we were blown away by how many people showed up to support our chapter at our second in-person trivia fundraiser in 2023! As a result, we’re exploring larger venues this year – more details to come.
Looking back: Summer 2024 events
We’ve had a blast celebrating Northeast Ohio’s SCI community at all our events this summer. We’re so grateful to have the opportunity to host these events and connect with our chapter members. While we always strive to coordinate events that allow our members to build community and share learnings from navigating life after an SCI, our main priority is fun – if you have any ideas or feedback to help us plan events for 2025, we’d love to hear them. Please feel free to email us at unitedspinalneo@gmail.com.
Car Show & Cookout
We were thrilled to host another Car Show & Cookout in June – for the first time since COVID. Thank you to everyone who joined to show off their rides and learn about MetroHealth’s adaptive driving program. Despite the heat, we had almost 30 chapter members in attendance! Driving after SCI may be a challenging journey, but depending on the severity your injury, it’s possible. Everyone who showcased their rides – and the assisted technology and vehicle modifications that enable driving after SCI – is a testament to that. If you’re considering your driving options following an SCI, check out the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center’s factsheets on everything you need to know to get started, and learn about participating in MetroHealth’s driver rehabilitation program services here.
Community Event Ticket Program Recap
Our 2024 Community Event Ticket Program has been a success. Thanks to your participation, we had the opportunity to enjoy several outings – like a play at Cleveland Playhouse, a Guardians game, and performances by the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center – with our chapter. The Community Event Ticket Program is flexible and ever-evolving, so we’d love to hear your feedback on how we can improve it next year. We look forward to discussing potential events to plan next year, and how to make them more accessible for our chapter, at a social hour during one of our upcoming monthly meetings.
Get Involved
We are always looking for people to join our team and help us make a difference in the lives of those impacted by SCI. Whether you’re interested in becoming a Peer Mentor Coordinator, Equipment Manager, Social Events Coordinator, Social Media Coordinator, Technology Specialist, or serving as a Board Member, there are various ways you can contribute to our Chapter’s growth and impact. Reach out to us at unitedspinalneo@gmail.com to explore volunteer opportunities and be a part of our leadership team.
If you’re passionate about supporting the SCI community and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to volunteer or take on a leadership role within our Chapter. Whether you’re interested in our Peer Mentorship Program, Equipment Lending Program, or have ideas for enhancing our services, we welcome your input and involvement. Encourage others to become free members and benefit from our resources like the Equipment Lending Program and inventory of donated items. Your support and engagement are crucial in helping us continue to serve and empower individuals across Northeast Ohio.
We’re still working to build a more inclusive, accessible community and create positive change for individuals living with SCI – and we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to our mission. We look forward to growing our membership and leadership team to better serve the Northeast Ohio community. Let’s make this summer a season of impact and empowerment!
Thank you for being a part of our journey!
