Victory Walk Inc. is a 501-c-3 Arkansas corporation evolved from the recognition of the need for specialized Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) therapy. We have an eight-person board that currently meets monthly with the board members heading committees. Our clinic is located at 1200 N. 40th. Street in Springdale, Arkansas. The corporate president and manager, Lynda Lemke, previously owned Lynda’s Travel Service Inc. in Siloam Springs, Ar. for seventeen years. Having their son paralyzed as a quadriplegic in a vehicle accident in 2007, Lynda and Alfred (Al) recognized the need for affordable specialized therapy and opened a non-profit clinic to fill the need. Having operated a successful business, they have firsthand knowledge, experience, and vision required to operate the facility. In starting up Victory Walk, Lynda and Al have financed the startup and bought most of the equipment needed. At Victory Walk, we go beyond normal therapy to train the client to ”live in a wheelchair”. We train to get them to get “out of the chair”. Therapy started the last week of April, 2009 and Victory Walk Inc. received IRS certification as a 501-c-3 on June 22, 2009.
Real people end up with paralyzing Spinal Cord injuries. Prior to receiving a Spinal Cord Injury, they were all fully functioning active members of society. There were dreams, aspirations, and anticipation of a life of quality and dignity. Now, not only have their spinal cords been injured, but their quality of life has been severely curtailed and their dignity is challenged hourly. The state of Arkansas has more than 2500, with 12,000 new spinal cord injuries in the U.S. annually. Christopher Reeve really got the ball rolling on “Simulative, Activity Based Therapy”. During his recovery, he regained 20% of his motor functions and 70% of his sensory functions. We know that stimulation with activity based therapy works. This therapy is becoming more widely used, but with 1.2 Million people paralyzed with Spinal Cord Injuries, the 20 clinics providing this type therapy in the U.S. just doesn’t cut it. Due to this lack of facilities in our region providing specialized therapy, we expect to draw clients from a multi-state area. Our experience shows that people are so desperate for this help in overcoming the paralysis that they will even move to be close to the therapy. With current funding, all clients have a nominal cost requiring them to make a commitment to their therapy. We look for funding for additional equipment and client support since most clients have been devastated financially in their prime earning years.
Getting a person up and walking has many benefits to the individual by providing better health and the opportunity to get back into the community. This positive outcome benefits the community by lowering the burden to society as a whole.