Support

There are an unlimited number of charities, groups and lifestyles that people belong to. Some support animals' rights such as the ASPCA, while others promote studies for children's diseases and quality of life.

First, I support my church and Christian based education through prayer and other resources. However, I also support two other groups that are not as well known. I work to promote awareness and support for these two, Parents for Barefoot Children and Spinal Cord Injuries, which are discussed further below.

Parents for Barefoot Children (PFBC)
This is a group of parents that work to raise public awareness on the benefits of children being barefoot. Through them, I believe that children, especially pre-teen, should be barefoot at all times and in most places all throughout the day.

It has been shown through studies and observations that children who are allowed to go barefoot have much fewer problems with their feet, and other problems, as children and adults. Shoes worn during the development years of a child's foot restrict growth, do not form a natural walk and promote flat feet and miss-shaped toes.

Most activities that children do can be done while barefoot. Swimming and water sports are the most common activities done when barefoot. However, hiking, play time, running and even climbing are activities that can be done without foot ware. Biking, trampolines, karate and gymnastics can be done just as well, if not better, when the child is barefoot.

There are schools that do not require students to wear shoes during the school day. Many stores and restaurants will also allow children to be barefoot in their buildings with little to no mention of the issue.

There are areas that feet need protection. Such as areas with broken glass, hot cement or unsanitary conditions. However, these areas can generally be avoided and not cause concern.

More information is available on the PFBC web site for activities, health studies and public awareness. The Society for Barefoot Living also has information for adults and kids. The next time you are with your children or a friend's, please encourage them to go barefoot, no matter what the day's activities might hold.


Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
If you know me, and as you go throughout my site, you will learn that I was in a car accident when I was three years old. It bruised my spinal column at the C2/C3 level and left me a vent dependent quadriplegic. Meaning I am unable to breathe without assistance or controllably move or feel from the neck down. It has been over twenty years that I have now been paralyzed from the neck down, and I have had many opportunities because of it.

In my view, the general public is not aware of the abilities, and limitations, a person with SCI might have. One generally accepted concept that I have seen in the public is that people with physical disabilities have no intelligence or reasoning ability, the truth is quite opposite. We are an intelligent, self-motivated and able group that can do as wide range of activities as most people without disabilities.

Almost every year since 2000, I have volunteered as a counselor for CHAMP Camp. It is a camp for children with respiratory difficulties, many with SCI, that go swimming, fishing, horseback riding, climbing and many others, just as any summer camp for kids.

Adults with SCI are able to do nearly everything that someone without a disability does. By using adaptive equipment and devices made for certain functions, we can do most any task.

Look to the Christopher Reeve Foundation or Joni and Friends for information on studies for a cure for nerve damage and assistance programs. As well as Care Cure for other studies and a forum where many people working or living with SCI converse on various topics.