September 10, 2026

Another Ramp

Matthew Rodreick

As I relayed in a New Mobility article last month, I recently demolished my son’s wheelchair ramp and took it to the city dump. I tore it down because nearly two decades of wear and weather had turned the support posts to dirt. It was crumbling and no longer safe to get him in and out of our house.
 

Three 'beautiful' views of the deck upgrade, in progress.

While I was throwing the pieces into the scrap pile, I couldn’t help but reflect on the 18 years since my son’s spinal cord injury (SCI). 

Back then, I had committed myself to the work that I hoped (and still hope) could render this ramp obsolete (or, at the very least, not essential). After a few years of adjustment, rehab and local connections I discovered U2FP. I signed on as an advocate and eventually joined their staff, first as their legislative director, then as Executive Director in 2017.  

Over the last 10 years, the state legislative bills we’ve passed via our Cure Advocacy Network have generated over $52 million for SCI research. Those dollars have brought scientists and people living with the injury together and generated multiple clinical trials that have restored benefit to people living with this injury (not just rats). 

When $40 million was cut out of the federal budget for SCI research last year, U2FP unified all of the national SCI organizations and led a campaign that restored that funding. $33M is now back in the budget for the Department of Defense’s Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP).

And yet, here I am building a new ramp that is still quite essential for my paralyzed son. 

U2FP continues working as hard and as intelligently as we can to allocate smart funding towards translational research ($85M for SCI research to date, thanks to our Cure Advocacy Network); and placing SCI individuals into research labs for better, faster interventions (our SCI Consultants program). This is labor intensive and expensive work - but it is vital for accelerating interventions. These initiatives sit alongside our Annual Symposium, CureCast podcast, Headline Patrol series and Team U2FP races that help align stakeholders and get our community closer to the recovery they need. 

But we need attention and resources to do it. Please help us get some of that attention at our upcoming benefit concert: The 2nd Annual Rock for SCI Research at The Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, happening on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Our headliner is Eric Howk, of Portugal The Man, with special guest Freaque (my son’s band) as well as Zoe Says Go (my band). We are trying to raise funds for U2FP’s important work. 
 

I know a lot of you live outside the Midwest and would like to come but can’t make it. You can still support this effort by participating in our silent auction that will run parallel to the concert (more on that soon). We’ll have a ton of cool items to bid on including art, jewelry, gear and vacation homes. 

Please come to the concert. Participate in the silent auction. And tell your friends, family and social media followers to join us.

Thank you!