My name is Heather Butz and I am a fifty-two year old educator residing in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and the proud parent of two college age young adults. I consider myself an intermediate athlete in my lifelong commitment to fitness. I am also an avid equestrian. I first learned to ride at age 5 and rode for forty-three years including competitively in the Tri-State area. As a Junior Competitor, I rode in the Central Pennsylvania Junior Horse Show Association. I rode competitively at Hollins College, Virginia and continued after college riding in the Adult division.

In August 2016, I was involved in a riding accident that left me paralyzed from the neck down. The level of my injury is C2 to C6 and I am an incomplete quadriplegic. This devastating injury created emotional, physical, and financial hardships for myself and my family. At the four-year mark, these difficulties remain a daily battle. While there have been brief moments where I have understandably faltered, for the most part I have waged a daily battle to stay positive and commit to aggressive and painful rehab to recover as many physical abilities as possible. For example, I now have recovered large motor and fine motor movement in my hands to the point where I can eat, operate a computer and phone, and perform some daily hygiene skills. I have the ability to hold myself up and walk moderate distances with a walker and a spotter. I strive to walk 60 minutes as part of my daily regimen. I have returned to work and teach full time math at Stroudsburg High School with an Aide in the classroom with me.

I believe a Recumbent Trike would diversify and strengthen my training with a goal of stronger and more independent walking. This creates physical and emotional freedom consistent with my competitive nature and would foster an enhanced quality of life. In addition to my desire to recoup abilities, I also take seriously my position as a role model for my students and my own children. The many difficulties created by our changed family dynamic have created a strain in the household including enormous emotional, logistical, and financial hardships. Only through your generous contribution, will I be able to afford this exercise equipment. I relish the opportunity to serve as a spokesperson and see myself as uniquely qualified based on my twenty-seven years of experience as an educator. I am excited to return to competition as a participant and Ambassador to those with spinal cord injuries, like myself.