WEST ORANGE, NJ — Roosevelt Middle School students had the opportunity of a lifetime on June 8 as Eric LeGrand, the former Rutgers star football player who has become a voice of inspiration for those with spinal cord injuries, paid them a visit.
The RMS students traveled to the West Orange High School Tarnoff Gym to hear LeGrand speak. LeGrand has become an inspirational speaker and meets with students and organizations to tell his story of triumph over adversity.
Born in 1990, LeGrand was a star defensive tackle at Colonia High School. In 2008, he chose to play ball at Rutgers University, moving on to play defensive lineman and tackle successfully. On Oct. 16, 2010, LeGrand suffered a severe spinal cord injury during a game against the Army Black Knights at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. On a kickoff to Army, LeGrand collided with the ball carrier, Malcolm Brown.
“I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,” LeGrand said while recounting the incident to students. He was unable to move from his neck down.
A long recovery process ensued, with LeGrand dedicated to regaining strength and mobility. LeGrand has regained movement in his shoulders and has sensation in his body, but it is his resolve and positivity that has inspired the world. He graduated from Rutgers in 2012, received the Unsung Hero Award by the New Jersey Hall of Fame, the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2012 ESPYs, and was named a Most Influential Person by the Star-Ledger. On Sept. 14, 2013, Rutgers retired his No. 52 jersey, the first time a number was retired in the history of the program.
LeGrand is in great demand as an inspirational speaker and the RMS PTA worked for several months to make the visit happen.
“It was so worth the all the preparation and fundraising to see the kids in total awe of this amazing young man,” RMS PTA member Sue Duarte said in a press release. “As he spoke you could have heard a pin drop. That’s how locked on the kids were.”
Following the presentation, a 20-minute question-and-answer period followed. LeGrand, who was present with his mother, Karen, was enthusiastic and pleasant throughout the morning, posing for photos and greeting well-wishers who stopped to say hello.
In addition to the fundraising efforts of the PTA, several Rutgers alumni and local officials helped to offset the cost and orchestrate the event, including West Orange Scholarship Fund Treasurer Jim Quinn, Mayor Robert Parisi, Assemblyman John McKeon, Council President Victor Cirilo, township attorney Richard Trenk, and residents Jeff Heller, Ken Mandel, Kris Healy and Bill Sullivan.
The funds raised for the assembly will be donated to the Christopher Reeve Foundation for research on spinal cord injuries. LeGrand accepted no money for his appearance.
Photos Courtesy of Cynthia Cumming
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