Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Columbus, OH--September 13, 2006:  Penn State and Ohio State University take to the football field on September 23 but all the important action may not be during the game.  These two rival schools have come together as one to deliver an important message in a one-minute segment between quarters.

Spinal cord injury is a very real danger in football but players so injured are often sent off to heal as best they can never to be heard from again.  Christopher Reeve brought the devastating nature of this injury to the eyes and minds of America.  Now, on the field, three people who have been felled by spinal cord injury will bring attention to this injury during National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.

Adam Taliaferro, a Penn State player, was injured 6 years ago during the last minute of the Penn State vs. OSU game in Columbus and was immediately treated for his injuries at the OSU Medical Center. Another is Tyson Gentry, an OSU punter/receiver injured just 5 months ago.  Finally, there is Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D., Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2004, who was injured by a falling tree while riding her bicycle, 8 years ago. She also received rehabilitation treatment for her injury at OSU and started a spinal cord injury research fund.

Rossetti travels the country speaking to audiences about inspiration, persistence, and goal setting.  Strangely, Tyson was in one of her audience when she spoke to the OSU football team, 8 months before he became injured. She mentioned Taliaferro’s injury during the presentation. She had each member of the audience write a personalized greeting card to a newly injured patient at the OSU Dodd Hall rehabilitation center.

Ironically, Gentry’s card was brought to him when was in intensive care. On the card, Gentry had written, "Never give up no matter how much adversity you face. You can always overcome and beat adversity. A lot of people believe in you." After receiving his card Gentry said, “When I saw the card, it was kind of weird and neat—a surreal experience! You never know what can happen. God throws things at you and you have to roll with the punches.”  Tyson takes strength in the fact that Adam, with a similar injury, is now walking thanks to the treatment he received at Dodd Hall.

The goal of the one-minute appearance is to increase awareness of spinal cord injury and the need for more research at facilities like Dodd Hall.

For more information contact:

Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D.

Rosemarie@RosemarieSpeaks.com

614-471-6100

1008 Eastchester Dr.

Columbus, OH 43230-6230

www.RosemarieSpeaks.com