The Brennan Rehabilitation Foundation, located in Lake Forest, was created by Chris Brennan, who made a very explicit goal for his foundation–to help people who suffered a severe stroke, got into an accident that damaged their spinal cord, sustained a traumatic neck injury, or suffered complications resulting in Tetraplegia. The BRF provides financial resources to make rehabilitation resources and opportunities available.

Brennan primarily created his foundation because, in 2014, an accident left him paralyzed from vertebrae C4-C7, which takes away all movement from the neck down. He was lucky enough to regain 60 percent of the strength in his arms and legs. 

“If I could walk again, I told myself I’d help people with similar injuries because I know from personal experience that you need financial help for prescription drugs, therapy, and possibly more,” said Brennan. 

The BRF has dedicated itself to raising money to help victims restore their lives to how they were before their accidents, and it does so with the Socrates Award, which is awarded to individuals who best embody the mantra of the Socrates creed,  derived from the Latin phrase “mens sana in corpore sano,” which translates to “Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body.”

The Socrates Award is awarded every year, and this year they were granted on March 19. The nominations are open on the website to anyone who has or knows anyone that has suffered a severe spine injury. This year, three people were awarded the Socrates Award. Individuals use the award to pay for different therapy methods, including Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Recreation Therapy, and Physical Therapy.

“I went through physical therapy for years in order for my arms and legs to be moving again, and I want others to have that same opportunity,” said Brennan. 

The award ceremony is something everyone looks forward to because it is rewarding to both the foundation and the recipients of the award. 

“At the award ceremonies, you get to learn about the winners. It is exciting to see them continue to return to the events to learn more about their story,” said LFHS junior and volunteer of the foundation Lucy Partington. 

The first one was Cooper Roberts from Highland Park. Cooper, an eight-year-old boy, was a healthy and athletic kid before the Fourth of July mass shooting at the Highland Park parade. Along with over 50 others, Cooper was shot at the parade. He was left paralyzed from the waist down. He has faced many surgeries and is looking to recover in the best way possible. 

They gave Roberts’ twin an honorary award for his commitment to always being by his brother’s side. Showing such a large amount of compassion for a brother paralyzed from the waist down demonstrates how good of a person he is. 

Daniel Golden from Chicago was the next person who received the Socrates Award. Golden is a U.S. Army Veteran and a current Officer for the Chicago Police Department. He was shot in the back when trying to break up a fight in July 2022. This also resulted in paralyzation from the waist down. He is very ready to continue his path through his rehabilitation process. 

The last recipient of the Socrates Award this year is Christopher Medak from Los Angeles, California. Medak, a creative writer/assistant producer, became paralyzed in August 2017 after a  body-surfing accident off the coast of Los Angeles. While in the ocean, a rogue riptide put Medak in the way of a seven-foot wave. It picked him up and slammed him back into just one foot of water. The blow shattered his C5 cervical vertebrae, which resulted in quadriplegia, meaning that all four limbs and the entire torso were entirely or partially paralyzed. His recovery included helping people with similar circumstances while overcoming a drug and alcohol addiction.

The foundation will continue striving to aid those in the future by raising money to award those needing therapy for their injury. They want to help restore as many individuals’ health and strength as possible now and in the future.

“Spinal cord-related injuries can take a huge toll on people’s financial situation. The fact that it is a lifetime grant means that they can always better themselves and get back to normal life as much as possible,” said Partington. 

The foundation’s goal this year is to raise $250,000 to help as many people as possible with the physical, emotional, and financial stress of spinal cord injury that causes a permanent disability. Although not far into the year, the foundation has raised nearly $60,000.