SISTER-BEAR FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
Sister-Bear Foundation's mission is to provide access to adaptive fitness and wellness resources for adults recovering from a stroke, spinal cord or brain injury, or other neurologic event to improve their health, functionality, independence, and quality of life.
About This Cause
In March of 2018, Julie Granger’s daughter Kathryn was severely injured in an auto accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down and caused the death of her best friend. Kathryn was treated at an acute care hospital in Fort Worth and was able to return to her home in Amarillo, Texas; however, she was unable to access resources in her hometown that would facilitate her ability to adapt to a new life as a paraplegic. Julie commuted with Kathryn weekly on a 10-hour, round-trip journey between Amarillo and Fort Worth to access therapy at Neurological Recovery Center, where her neurological and physical rehab included advanced, innovative treatments such as robotics, cutting edge muscle/nerve stimulation, aquatic therapy, muscle atrophy mitigation techniques, and virtual reality training. The cost and time of travel created a hardship for the Granger family, and they realized that many others in the Texas Panhandle region could benefit from the type of rehabilitation Kathryn received in Ft. Worth, which is 309 miles away. Fortunately, Kathryn was able to access care in Lubbock, Texas, 113 miles south of Amarillo, but it was limited to robotic treatment only. However, the time and distance still limit her to weekly trips when she could benefit from more regular adaptive fitness sessions closer to home. The Granger’s story is the catalyst that led Julie to start Sister-Bear Fund in 2019, with the goal of helping many adults in Amarillo and the surrounding area who have suffered strokes, spinal and cord and brain injuries, and other neurological injuries or illness to access fitness and wellness resources. GRANTS PROGRAM Sister-Bear Foundation provide grants to qualifying adults with mobility issues caused by neurological, brain, or spinal cord injury or illness to help defray expenses related to fitness and wellness and improved quality of life that are not covered by insurance. The geographic area we will focus on include impacted residents who live in the 26 counties Texas Panhandle and the surrounding four-state area (KS, OK, NM, CO). The Sister-Bear Foundation Grants Committee may consider the following reimbursable expenses among others: • physical and/or occupational therapy • adaptive fitness sessions or membership fees • gas money and/or transportation fees to travel locally or outside of Amarillo • motel expenses to access fitness/wellness resources • insurance deductible if therapy/wellness expense are covered by the individual’s insurance plan • adaptive home or auto additions (bathroom remodels, ramps, widening doorframes, car hand controls) • medical equipment that is non-reimbursable (catheters, adult diapers, wheelchairs, walkers, pads) • service animals or service dog training • support group expenses or fees for caregivers Grant applicants are required to provide receipts showing expenses incurred and services rendered from the health provider or an estimate of treatments or travel to access resources that their health provider recommends. LOKOMAT WELLNESS PROGRAM In October 2021, Sister-Bear Foundation formed a partnership with Northwest Texas Healthcare System to help bring neurological rehabilitation to Amarillo! Thanks to the generous supporters of the nonprofit's annual Sister-Bear Shoot and the 2021 The Panhandle Gives, Sister-Bear purchased a pre-owned Lokomat® from Neurological Recovery Center in Fort Worth , which was placed in the new NWTHS Physical Therapy facility in Wolflin Village. NWTHS uses the Lokomat for several of their therapy patients in October. If you or anyone you know could benefit from cutting-edge robotic gait-training therapy, please send us an email at info@sister-bear.com! FITNESS AND WELLNESS PROGRAM Sister-Bear Foundation desires to bring adaptive fitness and wellness resources to the Texas Panhandle, so that people with mobility impairments can stay fit alongside able-bodied family and friends in an inspirational and fun community setting. We are busy meeting with professionals, organizations, and businesses, and individuals with interest or expertise in adaptive sports and fitness to determine the best path forward. Please partner with us to achieve our vision that every mobility-impaired adult in the Amarillo Region enjoys improved functionality, independence, a healthier body, and a fulfilling, hopeful life!