The Conquer Paralysis Now (CPN) annual “Racing to Recovery” gala was held at the Crane Bay Event Center last week, and the foundation was kind enough to give NeuroHope staff and clients tickets to the ball!

CPN (formerly the Sam Schmidt Foundation) was founded by IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt in 2000 after he sustained a spinal cord injury in a practice crash at Walt Disney World Speedway.  The accident left him paralyzed from the neck down, but has not held him back from incredible success.  In the 16 years since the accident, he has founded a race team, become co-owner of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, and raised millions of dollars for spinal cord injury research and quality-of-life issues for people living with paralysis.

This year’s gala was emceed by Indianapolis Motor Speedway track announcer Dave Calabro, and featured remarks by 3-time Indy 500 champion Dario Franchitti and 4-time Indy 500 champion team owner Chip Ganassi.

According to the organizers, nearly $250,000 was raised.  Not too shabby.

To top off festivities, Schmidt performed a drive-by and peeled out for the crowd in a Corvette Stingray adapted to be steered and powered using only head and eye controls.  In other words – the world’s most incredible power chair!

The week got even better for Schmidt.  Over the weekend he took the Corvette for a cruise around  Indianapolis Motor Speedway at speeds topping 150 mph.  Then, James Hinchcliffe, a driver for his race team, won pole position for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.

NeuroHope sends a big thanks to Sam and the CPN team for letting us be a part of a great evening!