College Athlete Gives Back To Jackson After Spinal Cord Injury

More than five years ago, James “Woody” Beckham was playing in a college rugby game when he was tackled and left paralyzed from the chest down.

Beckham was rushed to Ryder Trauma Center at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, the only adult and pediatric Level 1 trauma center in Miami-Dade County. For two months following his injury, Woody underwent intense therapy at Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital and continued outpatient therapy at the hospital for a year.

To honor Woody, the Beckham family created The Woody Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization that raises money to aid in the recovery of spinal cord injury patients.

In August, Bimini Sands Resort & Marina hosted its 4th Annual Lionfish Bash fishing tournament in the Bahamas, where participants raised money for The Woody Foundation. They caught hundreds of lionfish, an invasive species that poses a threat to the ocean ecosystem in the Bahamas and South Florida.

The Woody Foundation recently donated $25,000 to Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital – money raised at the summer fishing tournament. Over the past four years, the foundation has donated more than $85,000 to the rehab hospital to buy new therapeutic equipment and help fund the recreation therapy program.

“Jackson is ground zero for people with spinal cord injuries – it’s the first place they go,” Woody said. “So I knew donating to Jackson would make the biggest impact.”

Woody, now 25, grew up in Miami, and said he hopes the donation will allow other spinal cord injury patients to continue enjoying activities in the water through Jackson’s recreation therapy program.

“Initially my future looked bleak – I never thought I’d be able to do what I’m capable of now. But I stayed determined and worked really hard on my recovery,” Woody said. “I kept fighting, and with the help of the incredible people at Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital, I was able to overcome everyday obstacles. I truly can’t thank them, or my family and friends who stuck by my side throughout everything, enough.”

For more information on The Woody Foundation, visit www.woodyfoundation.org.