Inspiration Moves Student to Action

Hi there! My name is Austin Whitney. I am 18, an active athlete, student, and also a new paraplegic. I just graduated from high school in June, and was supposed to be attending the University of Michigan this fall. However on July 21st I was in a bad car accident that severed my spinal cord and left me permanently in a wheelchair, with no sensation or movement from the waist down. I now attend my local community college and am on my way to attending UC Santa Barbara in January. I am so excited for that. I also am speaking at almost two dozen high schools throughout Southern California. I talk about my accident, the mistaken belief many teenagers have in their own invincibility, the choices I made that led to my accident, and the horrible dangers high school students face. I also speak about my recovery and the many lessons I learned about attitude in the 41 days I spent in hospitals this summer. I also talk about wheelchair awareness, as I never knew anyone in a wheelchair before my accident, and I seek to clear up any confusion about handicapped living. One aspect of wheelchair awareness that gives my accident meaning for me has been raising money for the Wheelchair Foundation. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the organization, they send wheelchairs to people around the world who are in desperate need. Current estimates say between 30 and 100 million people are constrained by mobility limitations and would benefit from a wheelchair. You know, six months ago I had never heard of the Wheelchair Foundation, and I could never have imagined the value of a wheelchair. With one, I can be completely independent and a full contributor to society. Without one, I would be constrained to a bed for the rest of my life. My life expectancy is the same as yours, but currently the average life span of a paraplegic like me in a third world country is just three years! A wheelchair is truly a liberator and it gave me my life back. The amazing thing is it only takes $150.00 to send a wheelchair to a developing country and thus give someone back the basic right of mobility. This is a way you can really change the world for someone less fortunate. I have gotten in touch with the Wheelchair Foundation and am trying to raise money to buy as many wheelchairs as possible. My goal was to raise $3,000 before I go off to school in January. I reached that goal recently, so now I am trying to raise $10,000 or 130 wheelchairs! If you are interested in donating, please see their website. Thank you so much for your support. Austin Whitney