Congratulations to Tighten The Drag Foundation for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. This Lutz-based nonprofit foundation helps to improve the quality of life for those that have suffered a spinal cord injury.
Tighten The Drag Foundation provides therapeutic sponsored outdoor activities and outings, links to valuable resources, the latest news on rehabilitation, research and recovery, and continuous support for families of the spinal cord injured. The nonprofit also raises money that helps to pay for activity-based exercise therapy rehabilitative and recovery programs, which is not covered by any insurance.
“Insurance companies don’t cover therapy because, most likely, someone with a spinal cord injury won’t walk again. While this therapy is necessary and worthwhile, it’s deemed this way by insurance companies because you just don’t know what kind of recovery each person will have,” the foundation’s lead volunteer, Sheila Tramontana, said.
Sheila’s own son, Robert Tramontana, was paralyzed 10 years ago, suffering a spinal cord injury while out on Crystal River. As Robert spent 87 days in the hospital, Sheila soon found out insurance would not cover the rehab therapy. It would have to be paid out-of-pocket and those sessions can run up to or more than $100 an hour, and, most likely, the therapy’s location is not nearby. Meaning, transportation also factors into this uncovered cost.
“It blew my mind just how little resources there were for helping this kind of injury. There weren’t places to go, nor is there an advocate for someone in a hospital who is looking for help for paralysis,” Sheila recalls.
According to the nonprofit’s website, “There are approximately 17,500 new spinal cord injuries in the U.S. every year. There are over a half-million people living with spinal cord injuries (SCI in the United States. Every 38 minutes in our country, a person becomes paralyzed.”
Some of the nonprofit’s upcoming fundraising events include its annual fishing tournament and walking program, both of which are in September.
In the meantime, for more information on the nonprofit, go to TightenTheDragFoundation.org.
Published January 11, 2023
