Sister of Man Who Was Shot Holds Gala Dinner to Raise Funds for People with Spinal Cord Injuries

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release

SISTER OF MAN WHO WAS SHOT
HOLDS GALA DINNER TO RAISE FUNDS
FOR PEOPLE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES

Toronto, February 22nd, 2010 – Imagine walking down the street and out of nowhere someone comes up behind and grabs your necklace. He rips it from your neck and starts to run. Instinctively, you run too – after him. You want your necklace back. But he stops and turns around, because he has a gun… so he doesn’t really have to run. And you don’t realize this until it is too late. This is exactly what happened to Aleem Syed. Aleem was shot in 2008 and as a result sustained a spinal cord injury. But that did not mean life was over for him… not even close!

Shan Khan is voluntarily chairing the Maharaja’s Bollywood Bash gala dinner event on March 3rd, in honour of her brother, Aleem. Her sister Nasia is also helping. Being of south Asian decent, the siblings want to showcase their own culture and prove life does go on – and can be amazing – after a spinal cord injury, when the right support is available. All funds raised at the Maharaja’s Bollywood Bash will support the delivery of programmes and services for people with spinal cord injuries through the Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario.

“After being shot I thought all my dreams were gone. I was a successful chef. I had worked at Canoe, Soho Metropolitan Hotel and Eagles Nest Golf Club. I was ready to start my own restaurant,” explains Aleem. “In rehab, I was connected with a Peer Support Volunteer through the Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario and, amazingly, he was a successful chef! He proved to me I could still be who I wanted to be.” Today, Aleem is pursuing his career as a chef.

Shan says, “I want others to be able to have the same support Aleem and our family had. It was through the help of the Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario that we got through this difficult time in our lives.” This is why Shan is so intent on making this event a success.

Pre-event opportunities are available for interviews, photos, as well as music and dance presentations.

The Maharaja's Bollywood Bash is a gala event celebrating life and culture. It will showcase India’s delicately-spiced food, mesmerizing music, mystical culture and exotic dance. The evening will begin with cocktails including the beautiful sound of the Indian Sitar. Guests will enjoy a sumptuous feast fit for a Maharaja. Entertainment will include Bollywood and classical Indian dancers who will entice you with their sensual rhythm. The old-world bazaar will feature fine items from India including jewelry, artwork, and silks to name a few.

Make time to celebrate… Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010.

6:00 p.m. – Reception
7:00 p.m. – Dinner
Verdi Convention Centre, 3550 Derry Road East, Mississauga
$150 per person
Tickets: 416-422-5644 ext 221

Media Contact:
Gillian Lynne-Davies
Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario
416-422-5644; Cel: 416-671-3189
More info: http://www.cpaont.org/media

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ABOUT Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario

Mission: To assist persons with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities to
achieve independence, self-reliance and full community participation.
About Spinal Cord Injuries: The spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves that runs through the vertebrae (backbones) in your spine. This nerve bundle is about 18 inches long, starting at the base of your brain and ending at your buttocks. The spinal cord acts as a superhighway between your brain and the rest of your body. Want to take a step, or wriggle a finger? The message is normally sent through the spinal cord to these body parts, in the form of nerve impulses. The highway runs in both directions: stub a toe or touch something sharp, and those pain or pressure signals speed back up to your brain faster than you can say “ow.” An accident or disease can damage your spinal cord. And when the spinal cord is damaged, the highway is essentially closed. Nerve impulses can’t get through. This results in paralysis – loss of mobility and sensation – below the level of injury. The higher the injury, the more body parts that are affected. If all four limbs are affected, this is known as quadriplegia. If two limbs are affected, this is known as paraplegia.
Did you know:
• A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at any time… in an instant.
• The number one cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries is falls followed closely by vehicle accidents
• There are 350 - 400 new spinal cord injuries every year in Ontario (approximately one every day) and current estimates indicate that there are approximately 12,000 Ontarians living with spinal cord injury.
• Spinal cord injury affects family, friends, employers, community and the health care system.
• People can, and do, make a positive adjustment to life with a spinal cord injury given the right supports at the right time.
• On average, it takes 2 to 3 years to attain sufficient independence following a spinal cord injury.
• The number of people living with spinal cord injury and paralysis is growing. They are living longer, and facing health-related and quality of life issues as they age.
• For the past 65 years the Canadian Paraplegic Association has been assisting people in rebuilding their lives … one victory at a time. 2010 marks our 65th anniversary.