Recent Blog Posts
- Keep Fighting Eric!
- What does Google Trends tell us about Spinal Cord Injury?
- Join the Cure Warriors - Great U2FP video
- 2011 Chicago Marathon Summary
- The Patient: The Person at the Center of My Care
- Study Shows US Health Care System Fails to Meet Needs of those with Spinal Cord Injury
- Budget Cuts Reduce Disabled Transit
- New Jersey State to Cut Spinal Cord Injury Research Funds
- Recent Study on US Health Care System Performance
- Good Article on Making Babies After SCI
Join Team SCIS for the 2013 Chicago Marathon
The remaining 15,000 entries into the 2013 Chicago Marathon will be allocated via a lottery. Those granted entries will find out on Tuesday March 12th. The best way to join Team SCIS is via the open registration process, so if you are lucky on the 12th we hope to have you on Team SCIS 2013
Join Spinal Cord Injury Sucks (SCIS) at the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
- Our name is our best recruiting tool -- Spinal Cord Injury Sucks -- thanks to the efforts of Team SCIS at five Chicago Marathons in a row, people have started to take notice! Runners choose us because they like our name and this awful condition has touched their lives in some way. Train with a purpose and let people know on October 13, 2013.
- Raise money for spinal cord injury cure research and advocacy for a charity with no paid employees-- SCIS is run entirely by volunteers who passionately fight for the 4 million Americans who suffer with some degree of paralysis. Raising money for SCIS ensures that the dollars donated by your friends, family and coworkers in this difficult economic environment have the most impact. SCIS runs lean and mean, just like you.
- As a member of Team SCIS 2013, you are part of something special that began at the Chicago Marathon and gains momentum every year-- The first Team SCIS was only 7 athletes in 2008. Five marathons and nearly 150 participants later, we've dedicated over $400,000 directly to spinal cord injury research and advocacy. We have an expression: "Once a member of Team SCIS, always a member of Team SCIS." Our former athletes are our best recruiters.
- Awesome SCIS race gear for the big day-- Unlike other charities, we provide high-quality, sleek racing gear for the big day. We want you to look, and perform, your best!
- Expert marathon tips and training-- SCIS will sponsor your training through CARA (Chicago Area Runner's Association) who organizes training programs and group runs throughout the Chicago summer. You'll have one of the largest running communities providing answers for all types of marathon-related inquiries including diet, training and injury care/prevention.
- SCIS Post Race Party-- Invite your friends, family and donors to celebrate your big accomplishment at the best Sunday afternoon charity post-race party in Chicago!
- Become Part of History-- Explore the lore and history of SCIS at past Chicago Marathons
Team SCIS Members in 2012
Ready to lace up?
If you want to join Team SCIS 2013:
- Runners who already have an entry into the 2013 Chicago Marathon - We would love to have you on Team SCIS. Click here to signup for more information on how to join our cause.
- Runners who are looking for an entry into the 2013 Chicago Marathon Click here to learn about how you can get one of our coveted post-close entries into the race on Team SCIS by meeting our fundraising requirement.
Keep Fighting Eric!
Submitted by SCIS on Thu, 04/18/2013 - 16:12Shout out to all my followers, love you guys couldn't go through this battle without your support
— Eric LeGrand (@EricLeGrand52) April 18, 2013
SCIS buys cellular microscope for Blackmore Lab at Marquette University
Submitted by SCIS on Sun, 03/10/2013 - 19:01SCIS is proud to announce that it recently made a strategic research allocation to Dr. Murray Blackmore’s lab at Marquette University. This research grant, paid with funds raised by Teams SCIS 2011 and 2012 at the Chicago Marathon, was used to purchased a highly specialized piece of equipment that will greatly aid Dr. Blackmore’s research. It is well known that injured adult axons in the central nervous system (CNS) have difficulty regenerating. This is due to a number of reasons, some of which are due to the molecular mechanisms (genes) present in the axons themselves. Dr. Blackmore is extremely interested in the genes involved in neuron regeneration. By identifying and targeting the right genes that may inhibit regeneration, future genetic therapies could turn on or off these genes and promote regeneration in the injured spinal cord. The problem is that there are hundreds of candidate genes that could be involved in this process. The research necessary to isolate and identify these individual genes is labor intensive and time consuming. Without the proper equipment, a brute force screening of all of the candidate genes could take many months, even years. This is why Dr. Blackmore’s lab desperately needed the piece of equipment funded by SCIS, a device called a high-content screening microscope. This device automates the process of identifying changes in cells in a quantitative and high throughput manner--so changes in neurons can be matched with the genes Dr. Blackmore has turned on or off. By granting his lab this important piece of equipment, Dr. Blackmore’s lab can complete an iterative sweep across all of the candidate genes that interest them in a manner of weeks, instead of years.
Another exciting aspect of the research allocation to Dr. Blackmore’s lab is it the first grant that was placed due to the collaboration between SCIS and Unite2FightParalysis that began back in September 2012. U2FP and SCIS have created a world-class scientific advisory board (SAB) and Dr. Blackmore’s lab submitted a research proposal for this microscope which was approved by the SAB, enabling the allocation of funds. We have established a very effective framework to channel future lab donations and are very excited about the potential impact on chronic spinal cord injury research.
The Marquette University student newspaper gave the donation front page treatment.
Learn some more about Dr. Blackmore’s research by watching his presentation at Working2Walk in Irvine, CA in November 2012:
Check back for future updates on this important research conducted by the Blackmore lab at Marquette University.
Another exciting aspect of the research allocation to Dr. Blackmore’s lab is it the first grant that was placed due to the collaboration between SCIS and Unite2FightParalysis that began back in September 2012. U2FP and SCIS have created a world-class scientific advisory board (SAB) and Dr. Blackmore’s lab submitted a research proposal for this microscope which was approved by the SAB, enabling the allocation of funds. We have established a very effective framework to channel future lab donations and are very excited about the potential impact on chronic spinal cord injury research.
The Marquette University student newspaper gave the donation front page treatment.
Learn some more about Dr. Blackmore’s research by watching his presentation at Working2Walk in Irvine, CA in November 2012:
"Rebooting the Growth Machinery" - Dr. Murray Blackmore from Unite 2 Fight Paralysis on Vimeo.
Check back for future updates on this important research conducted by the Blackmore lab at Marquette University.
What does Google Trends tell us about Spinal Cord Injury?
Submitted by SCIS on Sat, 01/19/2013 - 14:24Google Trends is one of the most interesting ways to waste time on the internet. For any given search term, it displays the historical frequency that google users have searched for that term. It displays the results graphically over time, with search frequency displayed as a percentage of the period when people searched for that term the most in the data set.
What does Google Trends tell us about “spinal cord injury”? The results are actually quite disturbing for anyone that would like to see a more aggressive search for a cure. Google users searched for “spinal cord injury” more than ever before or after in October 2004 when Superman, Christopher Reeve, passed away due to complications from his high cervical spinal cord injury (M in chart). It then was in October 2004 that our movement lost its most recognizable face, and our most passionate advocate for a cure. Since then, as technical traders say about a stock chart, the trend is from the “upper left to the lower right.” People are searching less and less for the term “spinal cord injury”. This data clearly reveals a trend that people are less interested in spinal cord injury. In fact, the most recent data reveals that people are searching for spinal cord injury 68% less than in October 2004. Why is this happening? There are probably many reasons. Anyone with a vested interest in seeking a cure for this condition should try their hardest to reverse this trend. Less people concerned with spinal cord injury means less government money going to research, less charitable dollars raised, and less public support for disabled issues like accessibility, equal employment or health care.
What does Google Trends tell us about “spinal cord injury”? The results are actually quite disturbing for anyone that would like to see a more aggressive search for a cure. Google users searched for “spinal cord injury” more than ever before or after in October 2004 when Superman, Christopher Reeve, passed away due to complications from his high cervical spinal cord injury (M in chart). It then was in October 2004 that our movement lost its most recognizable face, and our most passionate advocate for a cure. Since then, as technical traders say about a stock chart, the trend is from the “upper left to the lower right.” People are searching less and less for the term “spinal cord injury”. This data clearly reveals a trend that people are less interested in spinal cord injury. In fact, the most recent data reveals that people are searching for spinal cord injury 68% less than in October 2004. Why is this happening? There are probably many reasons. Anyone with a vested interest in seeking a cure for this condition should try their hardest to reverse this trend. Less people concerned with spinal cord injury means less government money going to research, less charitable dollars raised, and less public support for disabled issues like accessibility, equal employment or health care.
Join the Cure Warriors - Great U2FP video
Submitted by SCIS on Tue, 11/13/2012 - 19:48SCIS partner U2FP has produced a great video which debuted at 2012 Working 2 Walk Conference in Irvine, CA.
Join the Cure Warriors from Unite 2 Fight Paralysis on Vimeo.
Meet Team SCIS Wheelchair Racer Darwin Coligado
Submitted by SCIS on Tue, 10/16/2012 - 15:55NBC Chicago profiled two-time Team SCIS wheelchair racer Darwin Coligado before the 2012 Chicago Marathon. Watch:
Team SCIS Wheelchair Racers Get Ready for the Chicago Marathon
Submitted by SCIS on Sat, 10/06/2012 - 08:58Team SCIS wheelchair racers Adam Finney and Geoff Kent talk to FOX Chicago about their preparations for the upcoming 2012 Chicago Marathon. Watch:
SCIS announces strategic partnership with U2FP (Unite 2 Fight Paralysis)
Submitted by SCIS on Sun, 09/16/2012 - 14:54
2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
SCIS and 32 athletes are addressing the plight of SCI victims everywhere at the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. They're sending a message about the need for a cure and their dedication to the cause. Learn more about each of their stories, and support them by clicking their names below. Read more about joining SCIS for this year's race.
| SCIS Participants in the 2012 Chicago Marathon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jen Atwood | Jim Bercik | James Brereton | Chris Chapman |
| Todd Cherrington | Theo Cho | Alex Coleman | Darwin Coligado |
| Deb Coligado | Andrew Connell | Jessica Dudasik | Yusef Elfiki |
| Adam Finney | Raj Hathiramani | Shaan Hathiramani | Randie Hillison |
| Garrett Kent | Gary Kent | Geoff Kent | Patrick McLean |
| Mallory Middaugh | Joon Park | John Pascarella | Mike Pascarella |
| Emily Prettyman | Prathap Ramachandra | Jessica Rieger | Rich Scheflow |
| Alexa Schrock | Neel Shah | Jack Waters | Kevin Wilson |
Join SCIS for the 2012 Chicago Marathon
The open registration for the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon closed in 6 days this year. SCIS was the third organization to fill our post-close spots.
Join Spinal Cord Injury Sucks (SCIS) at the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
- Our name is our best recruiting tool -- Spinal Cord Injury Sucks -- thanks to the efforts of Team SCIS at four Chicago Marathons in a row, people have started to take notice! Runners choose us because they like our name and this awful condition has touched their lives in some way. Train with a purpose and let people know on October 7, 2012.
- Raise money for spinal cord injury cure research and advocacy for a charity with no paid employees-- SCIS is run entirely by volunteers who passionately fight for the 4 million Americans who suffer with some degree of paralysis. Raising money for SCIS ensures that the dollars donated by your friends, family and coworkers in this difficult economic environment have the most impact. SCIS runs lean and mean, just like you.
- As a member of Team SCIS 2012, you are part of something special that began at the Chicago Marathon and gains momentum every year-- The first Team SCIS was only 7 athletes in 2008. 4 marathons and nearly 100 participants later, we've dedicated over $300,000 directly to spinal cord injury research and advocacy. We have an expression: "Once a member of Team SCIS, always a member of Team SCIS." Our former athletes are our best recruiters.
- Awesome SCIS race gear for the big day-- Unlike other charities, we provide high-quality, sleek racing gear for the big day. We want you to look, and perform, your best!
- Expert marathon tips and training-- SCIS will sponsor your training through CARA (Chicago Area Runner's Association) who organizes training programs and group runs throughout the Chicago summer. You'll have one of the largest running communities providing answers for all types of marathon-related inquiries including diet, training and injury care/prevention.
- SCIS Post Race Party-- Invite your friends, family and donors to celebrate your big accomplishment at the best Sunday afternoon charity post-race party in Chicago!
- Become Part of History-- Explore the lore and history of SCIS at past Chicago Marathons
SCIS Team Member John Pascarella
Ready to lace up?
If you want to join Team SCIS 2012:
- Runners who already have an entry into the 2012 Chicago Marathon - We would love to have you on Team SCIS. Click here to signup for more information on how to join our cause.
