Eric Shairs Recovery Fund
Donation protected
2nd Annual Half Marathon/Full Marathon Race from Massachusetts to Music City: All funds raised go to the Eric Shairs Recovery Fund
Last year's event was a HUGE success down here in Nashville! So much so, that we've expanded our city from Nashville to Ipswich, MA. Even though we had an amazing turnout last year, there were a lot of people who couldn't make the pilgrimage to Music City, so we found the next best thing...find another race in Massachusetts!
Each race will begin Saturday, April 25th, 2020 and the information to register, or be a part of our team(s), is below!
https://www.runrocknroll.com/
https://ipswichalehalfmarathon.com/
I am thrilled that Jay Garry (Eric's “brother-in-law”) is heading the team up in Ipswich (just a stone's throw from where all our family and friends reside).
Money from this event will benefit the Eric Shairs Recovery Fund. This money helps with many things including:
• buying “durable medical goods” not covered by health insurance (some bathroom equipment)
• maintain “adapted equipment” in his minivan (ramp, 6 way power seat, hand controls, etc.)
• help pay rent and utilities when Eric is hospitalized due to illness.
• Supplement expenses for PCA’s (personal care assistants
• Medical expenses associated with Mikey (Eric’s service dog)
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and please share with those you feel appropriate.
Here is our team (at this point) who is going to run the half or full marathon and pledge to raise money on Eric's behalf.
Ipswich, MA—Jay Garry, Monica Bouchard, Mike Cotraro, Anthony Garry
Nashville, TN—Patrick Shairs, Lorrie Graves, Matt Swett
The following is more information about my brother, Eric, and why taking part in this event is more than worthwhile.
My brother, Eric Shairs, suffered a spinal cord injury in 2005 that left him paralyzed. When he became quadriplegic, with little movement in his hands and arms, the Eric Shairs Recovery Fund was established to help Eric with his recovery. Although insurance does help, it does not come close to what he should receive in aid. Four years ago, Eric lost his dog, Frankie, to old age and after a year of grieving family and friends suggested Eric get a service dog. His previous dog was not a certified service dog and this process was new to all of us. After proper evaluation and assessment Eric qualified as a potential customer of National Education for Assisted Dog Services (NEADS) https://neads.org/ located in Princeton, MA. The cost for a dog certified by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) was $8,000.00. Eric’s health insurance companies would not financially assist. For this reason, and many more, on March 31st, 2016 I started a gofundme page and decided to hike the Appalachian Trail, beginning in Springer Mountain, GA, in order to help raise money for Eric and his medical needs. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, and after close to six weeks on the trail and around 560 miles later, with the help of friends, family, co-workers, and former students, we were able to raise money to get Eric his service dog. Personally, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I met some wonderful people out there, who I keep in contact with today, and I truly could not have done it without their help, specifically, Powell, Clay, Payton, and Jason.
Unfortunately, while waiting for his service dog to be ADI certified, Eric was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. His treatment would further extend his waiting time for a dog and complicate other aspects of living. In May 2018 Eric was paired with Mikey and became an ADI certified handler and have been creating memories since. The only time Mikey and Eric have been separated was for 5 weeks this past winter while Eric was healing from surgery on his sacrum/tailbone due to a bone infection, cellulitis. Eric could not sustainably care for Mikey during this time as he was bed-ridden. Each year that has passed since creating this gofundme page (2016) I have increased the goal for how much money to raise.
We are looking for three things over the next two months:
1. To raise as much money, of course. Donations, no matter how big or small, are a HUGE help.
2. To share this link in your social media to raise awareness for Eric and his service dog, Mikey.
3. We would love to have more team members. Share our link in your social media on a weekly basis, discuss your training or anything that you think is pertinent to Eric's Recovery Fund.
Again, our current team members include:
Jay and Anthony Garry, Monica Bouchard, Lorrie Graves, Mike Cotraro, Matt Swett, and Patrick Shairs
Eric is one of the most amazing men I have ever met, and anyone who knows him understands exactly what I mean. If you don't know Eric, you know me, and please believe me when I say that he deserves and needs every cent of the $30,000 that will go to his Recovery Fund.
Last year's event was a HUGE success down here in Nashville! So much so, that we've expanded our city from Nashville to Ipswich, MA. Even though we had an amazing turnout last year, there were a lot of people who couldn't make the pilgrimage to Music City, so we found the next best thing...find another race in Massachusetts!
Each race will begin Saturday, April 25th, 2020 and the information to register, or be a part of our team(s), is below!
https://www.runrocknroll.com/
https://ipswichalehalfmarathon.com/
I am thrilled that Jay Garry (Eric's “brother-in-law”) is heading the team up in Ipswich (just a stone's throw from where all our family and friends reside).
Money from this event will benefit the Eric Shairs Recovery Fund. This money helps with many things including:
• buying “durable medical goods” not covered by health insurance (some bathroom equipment)
• maintain “adapted equipment” in his minivan (ramp, 6 way power seat, hand controls, etc.)
• help pay rent and utilities when Eric is hospitalized due to illness.
• Supplement expenses for PCA’s (personal care assistants
• Medical expenses associated with Mikey (Eric’s service dog)
Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this and please share with those you feel appropriate.
Here is our team (at this point) who is going to run the half or full marathon and pledge to raise money on Eric's behalf.
Ipswich, MA—Jay Garry, Monica Bouchard, Mike Cotraro, Anthony Garry
Nashville, TN—Patrick Shairs, Lorrie Graves, Matt Swett
The following is more information about my brother, Eric, and why taking part in this event is more than worthwhile.
My brother, Eric Shairs, suffered a spinal cord injury in 2005 that left him paralyzed. When he became quadriplegic, with little movement in his hands and arms, the Eric Shairs Recovery Fund was established to help Eric with his recovery. Although insurance does help, it does not come close to what he should receive in aid. Four years ago, Eric lost his dog, Frankie, to old age and after a year of grieving family and friends suggested Eric get a service dog. His previous dog was not a certified service dog and this process was new to all of us. After proper evaluation and assessment Eric qualified as a potential customer of National Education for Assisted Dog Services (NEADS) https://neads.org/ located in Princeton, MA. The cost for a dog certified by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) was $8,000.00. Eric’s health insurance companies would not financially assist. For this reason, and many more, on March 31st, 2016 I started a gofundme page and decided to hike the Appalachian Trail, beginning in Springer Mountain, GA, in order to help raise money for Eric and his medical needs. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, and after close to six weeks on the trail and around 560 miles later, with the help of friends, family, co-workers, and former students, we were able to raise money to get Eric his service dog. Personally, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I met some wonderful people out there, who I keep in contact with today, and I truly could not have done it without their help, specifically, Powell, Clay, Payton, and Jason.
Unfortunately, while waiting for his service dog to be ADI certified, Eric was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. His treatment would further extend his waiting time for a dog and complicate other aspects of living. In May 2018 Eric was paired with Mikey and became an ADI certified handler and have been creating memories since. The only time Mikey and Eric have been separated was for 5 weeks this past winter while Eric was healing from surgery on his sacrum/tailbone due to a bone infection, cellulitis. Eric could not sustainably care for Mikey during this time as he was bed-ridden. Each year that has passed since creating this gofundme page (2016) I have increased the goal for how much money to raise.
We are looking for three things over the next two months:
1. To raise as much money, of course. Donations, no matter how big or small, are a HUGE help.
2. To share this link in your social media to raise awareness for Eric and his service dog, Mikey.
3. We would love to have more team members. Share our link in your social media on a weekly basis, discuss your training or anything that you think is pertinent to Eric's Recovery Fund.
Again, our current team members include:
Jay and Anthony Garry, Monica Bouchard, Lorrie Graves, Mike Cotraro, Matt Swett, and Patrick Shairs
Eric is one of the most amazing men I have ever met, and anyone who knows him understands exactly what I mean. If you don't know Eric, you know me, and please believe me when I say that he deserves and needs every cent of the $30,000 that will go to his Recovery Fund.
Organizer and beneficiary
Patrick Shairs
Organizer
Franklin, TN
ERIC SHAIRS
Beneficiary