On June 6, 2021, I had a serious accident during my first ever parachute jump. I’d just turned 18. A sudden strong wind caused me to crash land. The result: I broke my back, with a spinal cord injury, and became paralyzed from the hips down.
“I was quickly able to accept my new situation and move on.”
I wanted to keep active, so I often trained at the IRGLM gym. I met people there who were in similar situations. It was cool to hang out with them instead of being alone. Because we were going through the same thing, we motivated each other and shared tips we’d learned in rehabilitation.
“The unbelievable support I receive at the IRGLM helped turn a crisis into a personal challenge.”
By supporting the REA Foundation, you, in your own way, are helping people adapt to a new life and embrace it despite their physical limitations. Thanks to the exceptional team at the IRGLM, I was quickly able to accept my new situation and move on. It’s in that spirit that I threw myself into para ice hockey, which allowed me to pursue my passion for hockey. Barely a year after my accident, I was already a member of the Quebec and Canadian sledge hockey teams. And in May, I’ll be competing in the Canadian Championship in Montreal.
Shawn Burnett, 20 years old,
Paraplegic following an accident
Make a donation to the Spring 2023 campaign
Where do your donations go?
We understand how important it is for you to know exactly where your donations go. Here is how your contributions support the mission of the RÉA Foundation :
• Beneficiary Fund : Your donations provide direct financial assistance to those in need who attend our centers, alleviating their financial hardship and ensuring equitable access to essential services.
• Improving care : With your support, we invest in the continuous improvement of the quality of care we provide. We are acquiring state-of-the-art equipment, which allows us to provide state-of-the-art rehabilitation services and support the independence of our beneficiaries.
• Training and Fellowships : Your donations fund specialized training for our health care professionals. This subspecialized training ensures that our teams are constantly updated on innovative practices, thus ensuring high quality care adapted to the specific needs of our beneficiaries.
• Innovative research : Your donations help fund innovative research projects in the field of rehabilitation. These projects advance knowledge and practice, opening up new opportunities to improve the care and independence of people living with disabilities.
Thanks to your generosity, you are actively contributing to the social inclusion of people living with a disability by offering them a new form of autonomy. We would like to sincerely thank you for your trust and your continued commitment to the RÉA Foundation. Every donation makes a real difference in the lives of our beneficiaries.
Thank you,
The RÉA Foundation team
Statistics on spinal cord injuries
