For some, heroes have numbers on their backs. For us, our heroes are Eddie and Chris Canales, founders of Gridiron Heroes Spinal Cord Injury Foundation.
This month Eddie and Chris embarked on a State of Texas road trip to raise funds and awareness through Gridiron Heroes' "Road Trip for Heroes II." The goal is to raise $125,000 and donate two wheelchair-accessible vans to Gridiron Heroes families. More information can be found at www.RoadTripHeroes.org.
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| Diondre receiving his new van. |
The most memorable moment of the Molina vs. R.L. Turner high school football game in Dallas, Texas on August 28 wasn’t a game-winning touchdown or a jaw dropping catch; rather it was during halftime when Gridiron Heroes presented a wheelchair-accessible van to Diondre Preston. Just four years earlier, on the same football field, Diondre took his last steps before suffering a spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic.
“Just being able to ride around instead of being in the house all the time will be different,” said the 21-year-old, who resides in DeSoto with his mother, Maya, and a 17-year-old sister. “I think my first trip will be to go get something to eat. I feel like I can do things now like I did before.”
“It
is so important after they finish high school to be there for support
when the families still have to deal with reality,” said Gridiron Heroes
founder Eddie Canales.
ABC News in Dallas (WFAA-8), captured the emotion...
ABC News in Dallas (WFAA-8), captured the emotion...
In 2013, the inaugural Road Trip raised over $118,000 for Gridiron Heroes, which provides resources and support to individuals suffering
catastrophic spinal cord injury through activities associated with high
school football. From this, two new wheelchair-accessible vans were awarded to Gridiron Heroes families.
Prominent college football coaches and celebrities serve as members of the Steering Committee (below), and participate in campaign promotion and media events.
Road Trip for Heroes Steering Committee
After kicking off the 2014 Road Trip in Dallas, Gridiron Heroes founders (father and son Eddie and Chris Canales) will make their way through College Station and Houston before wrapping up the Road Trip at home in San Antonio.
Road Trip for Heroes II is co-chaired by Bruce Gillooly of San Antonio and Christie Loyd of Houston, who lead a Committee of over 25 volunteers throughout the State of Texas to raise funds for the campaign.
About Gridiron Heroes Spinal Cord Injury Foundation
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| www.GridironHeroes.org |
On November 2, 2001, Chris Canales, a senior defensive back playing for San Marcos Baptist Academy, sustained a spinal cord injury during the fourth quarter of his final regular season game. Chris lay motionless on the field for 19 minutes. The next three weeks, Chris fought for his life. The following months he battled through rehabilitation trying to gain movement and learning how to function as a quadriplegic. Chris’ injury and the lack of any organized support system for families prompted his father, Eddie, to begin discussions about the desperate need for an organization for families who were forced to deal with the consequences of this devastating injury.
In November of 2002, Chris and Eddie were in attendance at the Texas 3A State Championship football game in the Alamodome in San Antonio. There they witnessed another spinal cord injury, Everman defensive back Corey Fulbright. Chris turned to his dad and said, “We need to go help them. I know what he (Corey) is going to go through, and you know what the family will have to go through.” Inspired by the compassion of Chris, Eddie formed Gridiron Heroes Spinal Cord Injury Foundation.
Gridiron Heroes was founded in 2003 with a specific mission: To provide immediate and long term resources and support to individuals sustaining catastrophic spinal cord injury through activities associated with high school football.
Since inception, Gridiron Heroes has provided direct support of over $600,000 to more than 50 high school football players who have sustained a life changing spinal cord injury and their families. Additionally, the Foundation has become an important resource and inspiration to those who have been devastated by this experience.
In 2011, the Canales’ and Gridiron Heroes were recognized as a Top 10 CNN Hero of the Year for their significant impact. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhQRoduO35Y
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