I Know They Are Making Strives to Help Others with Spinal Cord Injuries. Craig Hospital

Hello my name is Kathryn Wishard. I am a marathon runner and certified running coach through RRCA (Road Runners Club of America). I am hoping to help “make a change” in the life of a person suffering from a spinal cord injury – My brother being one of those people. On July 17, 1999 my brother was involved in a hay bailing accident and suffered a broken back. He was left paralyzed from his waist down and in a wheel chair. During part of his hospitalization he was flown to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado for rehab. They provided fantastic care for him while he was out there. Almost ten years later he is doing well, even in his wheelchair, he lives on a farm, caring for his goats, and taking care of himself. I have remained in contact with the folks at Craig Hospital through email but have never met them in person.

I know they are making strives to help others with spinal cord injuries. Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado has earned the recognition as one of the top rehabilitation centers in the world because of the successes of their “graduates”. Craig is exclusively dedicated to the specialty rehabilitation and research for patients with spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. They have treated more than 26,500 patients since 1956 - more spinal cord injury patients than any other single facility in the world.

Patients rehabilitated at Craig achieve higher levels of return to home, independence, and return to school or work because our healthcare approach addresses the whole person in all aspects of life. At the heart of Craig’s success is an uncommonly dedicated staff and devoted volunteers with extraordinary longevity, who bring their recipe for success to life. In 2007, patients came to Craig from 48 states and several foreign countries to take advantage of their expertise, experience, depth of resources, and caring environment.

On March 7, 2004, I participated in the Little Rock Marathon. My part of the marathon was the 3rd leg of a relay team (7.2 Miles). When I saw the wheelchair athletes come through I was so touched. I was concerned about walking 7.2 miles and these guys were doing 26.2 miles in their wheelchair using only their arms to get them across the finish line. I made a decision right then to train, lose weight and get ready for the full marathon in 2005. At 51 years old, I am in the best physical shape of my adult life. Almost 5 years later, I have now completed one 50 mile walk/run (which was for my 50th birthday), one 50K (31 miles) event, fifteen full marathons (26.2 miles each), two half marathons (13.1 miles), one leg of relay team (7.2 miles), sixteen 5K (3.1 mile) events, one 62 mile bike event and one Century (100 mile) bike event. I have lost 131 pounds, trained over 6,000 miles, drank over 1000 gallons of water, worn out 27 pair of running shoes, lost count on the number of GU energy gel packets, and met so many wonderful people through my running experience.

These wheelchair athletes gave me the drive I needed to get my life together and my body in better physical shape. I want to give back something for what they have given to me. I made another decision recently. I am doing 6 marathons in 6 states in 6 months. One of those marathons will be the Colorado Colfax Marathon on May 17, 2009. It is 1,003.73 miles from my home in Benton, Arkansas to the front door of Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado. I am doing fundraisers, taking donations and pledges for the training miles that I will log “between May 1, 2008 through May 1, 2009” in preparation for this marathon. My goal is to log 1,000 training miles and raise $5,000 to help with Spinal Cord Rehab. The money raised will be presented to Craig Hospital at a dinner in honor of the wheelchair athletes on Thursday, May 14. On Friday, May 15 I plan to tour the hospital and on Sunday, May 17, 2009 I will run the Colorado Colfax Marathon. I know that this marathon will be a challenge because of the altitude change but I am up for the challenge. However I need your help to reach my goal of $5,000. Please help.

Donations can be made through Craig Hospital Foundation by contacting Barb Page at or by calling her at 303-789-8913 or by contacting Kathryn at or by calling her at (501)920-9658. When making a donation please specify that it is going to the “Making Change Project”.

Every Counts

For more information call (501) 920-9568