Q’Straint will be the first product sponsor for the 50 Ability Marathon, an event raising funds for spinal cord injury research.

For the 50 Ability Marathon, a team of three wheelchair racers are attempting to compete in 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 weeks to raise funds for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy.
 
“What these three wheelchair racers are trying to achieve is a testament to their strength and courage,” said Dan Bruck, Q’Straint marketing manager. “We are proud to be part of their journey in bringing awareness to and raising funds for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.”

As part of the sponsorship Q’Straint will outfit the three wheelchairs with backpacks and provide promotional materials for the rehabilitation centers where the trio visit at each race location.

The trio of wheelchair racers is made up of Paul Erway from Kentucky and Grant Berthiaume and Aaron Roux of Arizona. Erway severely injured his spinal cord in a car accident. Berthiaume was paralyzed from the waist down in a construction accident. Roux was left with quadriplegia following a car accident while on leave from the U.S. Marine Corps.

Erway, Berthiaume and another friend came up with the idea of racing in 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 weeks while racing in the Oita International Wheelchair Marathon in Japan, the world’s premiere wheelchair marathon, in 2010.
 
“We want to set an example for others with disabilities — to help them see through the fog of their challenges so they can focus on the clarity of living life to the fullest,” said Erway. “My hope is that people see what we do and get the hint realizing that their disability isn’t the end of their lives. We appreciate Q’Straint’s support of this mission.”

For more information about 50 Ability Marathons visit http://www.50abilitymarathons.com/category/marathons/.

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