RUNNING FOR A CAUSE!
On Saturday, October 13, 2007, Mae Hawley ran in the Hartford Marathon (26.2 miles) to honor her daughter Tarah, 2 years out from a spinal cord injury, and now attending college. This is not the first marathon she has ever run, but this was the first one she ran for a cause. Mae says, "The Obie Harrington-Howes Foundation has helped our family out so much by donating materials to expand my daughter Tarah's bedroom. This was our way of showing our appreciation and raising money for your foundation so you can continue to help others with spinal cord injuries."

"I AM RUNNING THIS RACE FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T. " -- Mae Hawley

David is from Clinton and has been a paraplegic since he was injured falling off a ladder at home. With the help of the OHHF, he is no longer confined to his living room. He has added a bedroom, bathroom, and home office on the first floor and now has access to the rest of his home.

Millie is from New Haven and has had a spinal cord injury since a car accident when she was 18 months old. The Foundation provided an ultra-light wheelchair to enable her to play wheelchair sports.

Sam, from Bridgeport, was robbed and shot while driving. The OHHF helped Sam and his wife purchase a new vehicle so that he is not longer housebound.

Michael, a father of two from Trumbull, is a quadriplegic who cannot speak. The Foundation purchased a computerized speech augmentation device for him, and have, in his words, “given him back his voice”.

Rachel, from Saugatuck, is a formerly independent single woman who owned her own home and hairdresser business. A wheelchair was purchased for her and a ramp built so that she can access her backyard garden.

Hennessey was a healthy, active toddler when surgery for a non-malignant tumor left her a paraplegic. The Foundation paid for modifications to her wheelchair and purchased parallel bars to enable her to learn to walk again.

Rick is a counselor who lives in Colchester with his wife and four children. Rick sustained a spinal cord injury while scuba diving that left him a paraplegic. The Foundation replaced the unsafe ramp and deck at his home with a new one made of long lasting composite material.

Mark is from Unionville. He was an athlete before his accident and was determined to continue to be one. The OHHF purchased an athletic wheelchair for him so that he could compete in Spokesbenders, a Connecticut wheelchair basketball league.

Alexander suffered a severe spinal cord injury in an auto accident following graduation from high school in Wallingford. The OHHF financed home remodeling to provide accessibility to his bathroom, a wheelchair ramp to the driveway, and a laptop computer to enable Alex to continue his studies and his hobby, composing music.

Francisco, from Bethel, was injured in a diving accident. The Foundation provided a challenge grant that enabled him to purchase a used van that was perfectly outfitted for his needs.

Kathy from Yonkers has been a quadriplegic since a swimming accident in 1984. She has raised two children and completed her law degree. With the help of funds from the OHHF and the money she raised from a raffle, Kathy purchased a new van.

A motorcycle accident caused the spinal injury to Al, who is married with three children. The OHHF purchased a bilateral hip/knee/foot brace for Al, enabling him to return to work.

Paralyzed as a result of a virus, Carol, who had worked as a nanny, had no insurance and could not afford a properly fitted wheelchair in which to leave the hospital. The Foundation provided her with a wheelchair and a shower bench.

Cyndy is a bank teller from Milford. She can now continue to work full time since the Foundation helped her with a matching grant to purchase a new van.