About Walk2Walk
Walk2Walk
The Walk2Walk program came about because Touch the Future, Inc's Executive Director, Sandy Hanebrink, successfully participated in a clinical trial of the Ottobock C Brace mechatronic stance and swing phase control orthosis system. It was the first time in over 30 years that she was able to walk by using this amazing technology. But despite having two insurance providers, she was unable to get approval to obtain the C Braces. Again, she successfully was able to use the walking technology. Her doctors, therapists and the orthotist, provided the medical documentation to support getting it but she hit a brick wall. So Sandy and her medical team began the appeals processes, and she and her family and friends began creating awareness about the technology, the benefits, and needs, continued the search for new technologies, trying out other technologies, and began fund raising, not just for Sandy but for everyone who successfully completed trials and needed funding support to obtain this technology and maintain it. Walk2Walk was established with a local event and a crowdfunding page. But this was not going to be enough and we knew so many individuals who dreamed of getting this technology, so we created the Walk2Walk virtual events site to enable the global community to get involved and help improve the lives of people forever.
Through Walk2Walk,
- We hope to help fund individuals who are paralyzed and successfully completed walking technology trials to get the devices they need.
- We hope to generate awareness of the different approved home use technologies and the benefits and needs of individuals.
- We hope to support manufacturers to develop the products with user feedback and to help improve access to their technologies.
- We hope to facilitate systems change so that insurance companies will cover the costs of these innovative technologies, that are no longer experimental but proven to improve the health, independence and quality of lives of individuals who are paralyzed.
- We hope to build a community of support that will not only help us meet our goals, but also each member of the Walk2Walk team's individual health and life goals while they support the goals of grant and event recipients.
Walk2Walk and make walking possible again!!!
Ongoing Walk2Walk efforts will continue as we track each step, mile and dollar raised towards helping individuals with paralysis walk again. There will also be designated Walk2Walk events like fun walks and runs, races, bikes rides and even pub crawls in the future. And individuals who are paralyzed will be able to setup personal Walk2Walk events to raise funds for their own campaign.
Let's do this! Start walking today. Reach your goal. Post your results. Share your photos. Wear your t-shirts with pride. Be a part of an amazing community to help people walk again!
