Printer Friendly Page 

Cleary raises more than $1 million for spinal cord injury research

Robin Cleary receives the $25,000 check from Calder's Ken Dunn (Jim Lisa/Calder Race Course) Assistant horse trainer Robin Cleary, who was paralyzed in a horse training accident at Calder in 1996, was honored Friday at Calder's Turf Club for raising more than $1 million for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis' spinal cord injury research programs. The 1996 injury left Cleary a quadriplegic, unable to move from the neck down. Calder's Ken Dunn presented the $25,000 check that officially put Cleary over the $1 million mark. "What Robin has done is simply amazing. I know of no other individual who has led such a grass roots effort to raise money for any charity," Miami Project President Marc Buoniconti said. "She is truly our shining star and an example of how much one determined individual can do to make a huge difference in the lives of so many." Cleary and her husband, Brian, still train horses together, but she also spends time sharing her story of hope and asking others to believe that a cure for paralysis is not only possible but within reach at The Miami Project. Cleary's fundraising has come from the horse racing community.

"Each year I continue to try and expand my efforts and reach," she said. "I am so fortunate that the horse community, full of so many giving people, answered the call these past 10 years. I never thought it possible to raise the kind of money I have when I started. I'm humbled by their generosity and fortunate to have many dedicated and generous donors and friends who have given me the opportunity to help fund this research and be a part of finding a cure."

Cleary learned of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, which is the world's largest organization working to find a cure for paralysis, in early 1998. She decided that she needed to do what she could to help, and her efforts became so successful that in 2000 The Miami Project named a special fund in recognition of her efforts, the Robin Cleary Paralysis Research Fund at The Miami Project. One hundred percent of the money she raises goes directly to spinal cord regeneration research programs.

The Miami Project, located at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine, is now embarking on a human clinical trials initiative to fast-track promising research to the clinics and hospitals. Cleary's fundraising is making a big impact in helping to fund the research.

More Racing Headlines:

Miss Temple City earns hard-fought victory in Matriarch

Annals of Time captures first stakes win in Hollywood Derby

Penn Derby upgraded to Grade 1 for 2017

Miss Temple City headlines Del Mar's closing-day Matriarch

Trio of graded stakes on tap Saturday

Send this article to a friend