5 Years After the Death of SCI Fund Raisng Superman

This year may long be remembered for the many the cultural, political, and scientific icons of our lifetime who passed on – Walter Cronkite, Michael Jackson, Norman Borlaug, Farrah Fawcett, Ted Kennedy, and many others.

Five years ago this week, we lost another icon, one who managed to bridge these worlds of culture, politics and science.  On Oct. 10, 2004, Christopher Reeve-- Hollywood’s Superman who gained world-wide fame as a spinal cord injury activist -- died in upstate New York at the age of 52.

His death was a devastating loss not only for his friends and family, but for all the families who were struggling with spinal cord injury, or SCI. Many worried that--with the most visible and very human face of SCI gone -- support for research and care might suffer. And there were serious doubts about the future of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, doubts that grew stronger less than 18 months later when Christopher’s wife Dana died tragically of lung cancer. 

As we remember Christopher on the fifth anniversary of his death, it’s strikingly clear that the nation is at an historic turning point. The last century will be remembered as one of incredible scientific and social achievement – from civil rights, women’s rights, and the environmental movement to the moon landing and the creation of the internet. Will the 21^st Century be remembered for creating full freedoms and opportunities for the millions of Americans living with paralysis, or only for decades of disappointment? 
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