Millburn Coach to Participate in 24-Hour Walk to Beat Paralysis

A Millburn coach who regained his ability to walk after he was paralyzed from a fall will participate on Saturday in the Walk to Victory Over Paralysis, a 24-hour fundraising and awareness event at Kessler Institute in West Orange.

John McAleavey, who is walking again after falling down stairs in 1992, has been the head coach for the eighth grade boys basketball team for 14 years and the assistant coach of the Millburn High School freshman football team for three years. 

McAleavey will be the featured speaker at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Walk to Victory Over Paralysis. 

Kessler Foundation and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, part of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation’s NeuroRecovery Network, will participate in the event from 9 a.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday.

Walk to Victory over Paralysis events will be held simultaneously at eight rehabilitation centers and fitness and wellness facilities nationwide. Kessler will host the local event at its facilities at 1199 Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange. 

McAleavey also participates in research studies at Kessler Foundation and has raised more than $3,000 for Walk to Victory.

Former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, who is paralyzed from a spinal cord injury he sustained in a October 2010 game, will be the featured speaker at 9 p.m. Saturday.

A recent graduate of Rutgers University, LeGrand is an author, motivational speaker, sports radio broadcaster and a retired player of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Funds raised by Team Kessler will be divided between Kessler and the Reeve Foundation. Each center will use the funds for their greatest need, from scholarships for people unable to afford therapy to more or better equipment in the facilities. Visit Team Kessler’s page and make a donation at www.KesslerFoundation.org/TeamKessler.

For a complete list of all participating sites or to donate, visit the Walk to Victory Over Paralysis website at:www.ChristopherReeve.org/Victory2014.