For Goodness’ Sake
by Jeannine Gage
NextStep Orlando, a state-of-the-art paralysis recovery and fitness center, has been doing good work in our community for more than 15 years.
Now, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit is receiving a gift that will enable it to help even more people. NextStep Orlando is the first recipient of The Goodness Gala, a fully-donated, all-inclusive gala that is being hosted by a collective of area companies in the events industry.
The event, to be held in September, will raise funds and awareness for NextStep Orlando, which was selected as the gala recipient from a pool of 20 Central Florida nonprofits.
“We are thrilled,” says Liza Perla Riedel, NextStep Orlando’s founder and executive director. “We went through a long application process and really poured our heart into it.”
A Devastating Diagnosis
Nearly 20 years ago, a horrible accident upended the lives of Liza and her daughter Amanda – which eventually led to the founding of NextStep Orlando.
In 2006, Amanda was enjoying the final few weeks of her senior year at Lake Mary High School. On prom night, Amanda was a passenger in a car involved in an accident.
“I broke my neck and suffered a spinal cord injury,” says Amanda, who is a C6 quadriplegic, meaning she has paralysis or weakness in all four limbs.
Doctors told Amanda that she would probably never walk again. The inpatient physical therapy she had after surgery revolved around getting used to life in a wheelchair and was not challenging for Amanda.
“I wanted a chance to not just adapt,” she says, “but to recover.”
Liza was dumbfounded by the doctors’ prognosis.
“They can build a cell phone,” she says, “but can’t help my daughter walk again? I could not comprehend that.”
Liza began researching paralysis rehabilitation programs and found NextStep, an activity-based therapy program in California. She raised funds to take her daughter there for treatment, and for the first time, they felt that Amanda could make progress.
“The activity-based therapy is much more challenging and rigorous,” says Amanda. “I stood for the first time in six months the first day that I was out there. I was like, ‘This is what I needed.’”
A Step in the Right Direction
Liza was overjoyed, too, and mother and daughter agreed that Central Florida needed a NextStep center to help those living with paralysis in our community. In 2009, Liza opened
NextStep Orlando. She and Amanda run the center, located in the Orlando Sportsplex at 8701 Maitland Summit Boulevard.
The pair have helped hundreds of people like Laura Engstrom, who suffered a traumatic injury in a motorcycle accident. She comes to NextStep Orlando twice a week for treatment.
“My doctors told me I would never walk again, and maybe I won’t,” says Laura. “But I can still improve my body and be stronger.”
Both Laura and Amanda are still dependent on wheelchairs, but they say that’s not the only measure of progress.
“I am so much stronger and I have a better quality of life,” says Amanda.
That’s even more important to Amanda now that she and husband will soon be having a child through surrogacy.
There is a fee for services at NextStep Orlando, but Liza says the nonprofit offers some scholarships and keeps prices as low as possible.
“We want to help as many people as we can,” says Amanda. “That’s why I’m here. This is not just a job to me, it’s my purpose.”
Defying Paralysis
Liza and Amanda chose to theme their gala as The Wicked for Goodness Gala: Defying Paralysis. The event will be held from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. September 20 at The Balcony Orlando, at 189 South Orange Avenue.
The gala will feature Wicked-inspired entertainment, dancing, dinner and cocktails, a silent auction, and inspirational stories of recovery.
“A lot of people are donating their services and products to make this happen,” says Sean Hughes, executive director of The Goodness Gala. “We are really hoping it will be a big success for NextStep.”
The goal is to raise $200,000 for NextStep Orlando, with all proceeds supporting its paralysis recovery program.
Tickets are available at Secure.qgiv.com/event/wickedgala