In July 2020, Christopher went to the beach with some friends. As he dove into a wave, he was forced down, causing his head to roll forward and instantly broke his neck. The result of this one move was Christopher shattered his C6 vertebrae in his neck and lost all feeling from the chest down. Following a tremulous 41 day stay in the ICU, Christopher was able to begin his recovery journey as a quadriplegic. After being discharged from PT/OT, Christopher looked extensively for a place that would allow him to continue making progress. This search led him to Project Walk New Jersey.

As Christopher says “Although Project Walk has truly been a blessing, it comes at a price. Unfortunately, insurance is not accepted and I am forced to pay out of pocket.” After already facing so many interruptions to his training Christopher wanted to find a way to be able to attend these sessions on a consistent basis, without putting a further financial strain on his family. The Victory Scholarship Christopher received gave him the opportunity to continue to attend Project Walk on a regular schedule, continue to progress in his recovery journey and improve his mental health by interacting with his peers.