 |
|
Jesse Billauer
|
Jesse Billauer is National Outreach Director for Life Rolls On, a California based paralysis support organization that recently became a division of the Reeve Foundation. Here is his core message, followed by those of other Reeve Foundation Ambassadors.
Life Rolls On is about overcoming adversity. It's an avenue to hope, independence, freedom, happiness, inspiration, and teamwork. My message is about living life to its fullest. When I speak to young people I tell them to enjoy today because tomorrow is not guaranteed – your world as you know it can change in an instant. I always tell kids or anyone else I speak with to not wait for a tragedy to tell those important to you that you love them.
My message is simple: No matter how bad things may appear, happiness is just a positive thought away. Love life because life loves you. These are the messages I bring to the community. Together we are much stronger than we are alone.
Meet the rest of the ambassadors
Dave Annable, actor
A few years ago, I attended a Reeve Foundation benefit. I was immediately drawn to the work that they were doing to cure spinal cord injuries and then a tragic event hit very close to home. My best friend broke his neck diving into my pool. I experienced first-hand what the Reeve Foundation is all about: hope.
Joseph Briseno, parent
When our son Jay was injured, we didn't know where to turn. If it weren't for the help of the Reeve Foundation, we wouldn't have received the information we needed. My role is to reach out to the military community to let them know we exist, let them know that we have valuable resources. Chris and Dana are no longer here. Their's are big shoes to fill, but we all need to continue the work and carry their legacy forward.
Scott Chesney, speaker
As a person with paralysis for the last 24 years and serving as a Reeve Ambassador, I am energized and committed daily to enhancing my quality of life and the lives of my extended brothers and sisters with paralysis so that we can live life to the fullest in or out of our wheelchairs.
Francesco Clark, businessman
Christopher Reeve was my hero even before I was injured. As ambassadors, we help raise awareness of what a spinal cord injury means – not just about the cure that's needed, but also the care that's needed. We show others how having a spinal cord injury doesn't have to mean living anything other than your best life. Personally, I'm just as active, if not more, in a wheelchair as before my injury. As ambassadors, we also raise money for medical research and help pass legislation; both are critical to progress.
Juan Garibay, counselor
The reason I became a Reeve Foundation ambassador was to educate people with disabilities and show them that you can move forward regardless of your background and disability. There is no reason why you should be denied the life you want to live or the quality of life you desire. Your disability does not define who you are; you are defined by the life you live.
Eric Gibson, counselor
After my own injury, it was my goal to educate others about prevention and teach those who become paralyzed how to maximize their lives in wheelchairs. I bring my message to inner-city communities where it is truly needed due to gun and gang violence. As an ambassador, I can expose these individuals to all of the great resources that the Foundation has to provide them with a better quality of life. The Foundation has changed how the world views people living with paralysis and has been a blessing to all of us dealing with paralysis.
Michael Glenn, balloonist
Being an ambassador for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation gives me a chance to show people that anything is possible. When my auto accident happened in 1996, I really looked up to what the Reeve family was doing. Christopher was my inspiration for pushing my limits and getting out and living my life.
Gary Karp, speaker
In my role as an ambassador for the Reeve Foundation, I use my personal story to highlight how people respond to traumatic change, how they are able to reach for a new vision of their lives.
Daryl 'Chill' Mitchell, actor
I hope my brothers and sisters in the paralyzed community will see that you can indeed have a rich and fulfilling life after paralysis. That's why I work to spread the Foundation's message and urge people to check out paralysis.org; the PRC's resources can make a huge difference to your quality of life.
Angela Rockwood Nguyen, model
God's gift to you is life and what you do with your life is your gift back. The beauty of being a human being is that you have a choice... a choice to live your life to the fullest, a choice to be positive regardless of any predicament, a choice to lend a hand, a choice to be a beacon for someone in the dark, and the choice to unite with a powerful force to bring positive changes that can benefit others.
Ruben Rios, painter
Our time here is very precious. I believe that we should spend as much time as possible helping one another. Being an ambassador gives me many opportunities to contribute to the community. My hope is that I'm able to inspire in others the hope that Christopher Reeve inspired in me.
Wilmer Valderrama, actor
I have admired Christopher Reeve since childhood, not only for everything he represented onscreen, but his strength of character off-screen. I am proud to represent the Foundation Chris and Dana developed and to directly help those living with paralysis and their loved ones.
Karrie Webb, golfer
My coach Kevin Haller became a quadriplegic in 1990. After I met Christopher Reeve a few years later, I joined with him to support the cause and to raise awareness and money for spinal cord injury research.
Odette Yustman, actress
I have seen first hand the amazing work of the Reeve Foundation. It is so touching to see how unconditionally dedicated every person involved in the Foundation is to curing spinal cord injury, and helping to find a better quality of life for people. Read more about the Reeve Ambassadors
|
