LAS VEGAS – Approximately 200 attendees gathered in Las Vegas for the annual Stand Up for Homecare fundraiser at Medtrade Spring. The reception raised more than $50,000 to help promote a positive image of HME, and raise public awareness of homecare’s benefits.
Funds from Stand Up for Homecare go to consumer advocacy groups such as the American Association of People with Disabilities, the United Spinal Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the National Council on Independent Living, as well as consumer-facing initiatives run by AAHomecare, such as Save My Medical Supplies.
Disability advocate and paralympian Bert Burns spoke at the event, sharing his story of perseverance, as well as his mission to help others with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). At the age of 20, Burns was hit by a drunk driver. The resulting C6 injury, now more than 33 years ago, changed the direction of his life—ultimately leading him to work at the Shepherd Center helping others with SCI—and creating the Life After Spinal Cord Injury (LASCI) organization.
Burns helped to build a successful business (UroMed), eventually selling that entity last year. During that time, he married and had two children. He also competed in three paralympics (wheelchair racing) and completed 87 full marathons in a Top End racing wheelchair manufactured by Invacare. “You can go home and say ‘life sucks’ and it will,” mused Burns (shown here with Lisa Wells, founder of Get Social Consulting). “But life is not over, it’s just different.”