The Thomas E. Smith Fight to Cure Paralysis Foundation

This year we are taking part in the 125th Boston Marathon to raise money for Journey Forward via The Thomas E. Smith Foundation. Journey Forward is New England's most comprehensive rehabilitation center for those living with paralysis. We are running on behalf of our cousin Tom, President and Co-founder of The Thomas E. Smith Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to better the lives of those affected by and living with paralysis through financial and emotional support, as well as supporting preventative innovations that decrease the risk of spinal cord injuries.

Our entire lives we looked up to Tom, admiring his athleticism, work ethic, and tenacity. Growing up, all three of our lives revolved around sports. Tom spent countless hours on the ice, Andrew on the football field, and Sydney playing lacrosse. As kids, the three of us could be found playing street hockey outside of Tom’s house or running football routes in the backyard at Andrew’s house. We are a fiercely competitive bunch but as we furthered our athletic careers, we were always each other’s loudest cheerleaders and biggest supporters. Tom trained harder than anyone, he pushed himself and worked tirelessly chasing his dream of becoming a professional hockey player. All three of us set our sights on playing division one sports in college. Eventually our dreams became a reality, Andrew would continue his football career at Columbia and Sydney went to BU to play lacrosse. Tom decided to play junior hockey for a year while getting recruited by both division one and professional hockey scouts. 

On August 2, 2008, while Tom was playing hockey, he went headfirst into the boards while chasing down an opposing player. He sustained a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. We remember getting the call that Tom was hurt and rushing to the hospital to be by his side. There we found the toughest, most physically fit guy we knew laying in a bed unable to move. It was an image neither of us would ever forget. In the months that followed our entire family watched in awe as Tom battled paralysis. He eventually went to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis in Florida and received groundbreaking, cutting edge therapeutic treatment that helped him heal and recover from his injury, despite the odds. Tom was not only walking again but also cleared to go back out on the ice. He spent the following summer rigorously training and entered the 2009 season in top physical condition. Doctors called him a “walking miracle.”

Unfortunately, on Oct. 1, 2009, tragedy struck again when Tom sustained yet another paralyzing injury on the ice. The odds of this happening were the same as winning the lottery five times in a row. We were all grief stricken. How was it he could overcome paralysis completely, only to sustain a second unrelated paralyzing injury? As the rest of the family grappled with Tom’s injuries and watched the toll it took on him physically and mentally, Tom never quit. He once again attacked rehab with the same intensity he put into everything he does, never feeling sorry for himself or giving up. A car accident in the months that followed his second accident further injured Tom’s spinal cord and solidified his new mission and purpose.

Since then, Tom has dedicated his life to help those affected by paralysis. His foundation has changed countless lives through grants to individuals and families living with paralysis. We are so excited to run together for our cousin, our role model, and our inspiration. Our goal is to raise a total of $20,000, running for those who can’t, those living with paralysis. Thank you for your generosity and support, we look forward to crossing the finish line on October 11, 2021!