Melson to attend A Walk to Believe!

 

New York, NY (June 12, 2013) – Junior middleweight boxer and charitable figure Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson is attending the third annual “Walk to Believe” Saturday, June 15 at the High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, NJ.

 

A non-profit organization founded in 2010, A “Walk to Believe” raises awareness and funds to aid in the recovery of former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, who was paralyzed in a game against Army on October 16th, 2010. This tragic day for Eric took place against The Rainmaker's alma mater, West Point, and on his birthday. Melson told LeGrand that none of this is by chance as the universe has a plan for them to change the world together. LeGrand, who won an ESPY Award last year and is an active member of Team Fight to Walk, serves as one of America’s most powerful voices behind Spinal Cord Injury care. Through strenuous rehabilitation and an incredible will, LeGrand’s made excellent progress but still has a long way to go.

 

“Events like these are incredibly important to me because I will not be satisfied until I see those suffering like Eric and my best friend Christan Zaccagnino walking again,” stated Melson, who along with Zaccagnino, helped raise more than $130,000 for Spinal Cord Injury research by donating his fight purses to Justadollarplease.org. This amount is now rapidly approaching $200,000 in total thanks to Team Fight To Walk's first official fundraiser dinner- Fighting For The Cure- covering the costs for two human beings with Spinal Cord Injuries to take part in the trial."

 

“Research and care are very expensive, and the US Government has not contributed a single penny towards this specific clinical trial which is the very first in the United States aimed at curing Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries for human beings with an injured Spinal Cord for at least one year.  Even a single penny from the government offered to fund this trial would serve as the United States government showing its gratitude specifically to its 40,000 Veterans that live paralyzed inAmerica. I am extremely excited to stand by my brother Eric as he is trying to change the world similar to how he did for Team Fight To Walk at our “Fighting For The Cure” Event.  I already told him that I am sitting on his lap for the walk to ensure that I am as close to the champ as possible!"

 

To participate or for more information, please to go Awalktobelieve.org

 

LeGrand Joins Team Fight to Walk!

Avenel, NJ (June 22, 2012) – Eric LeGrand is the newest member of Team Fight to Walk.

 

Created in 2011 by boxer and West Point graduate Captain Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson, Team Fight to Walk’s goal is to raise awareness within the boxing community as well as the entire nation about the importance of bringing Clinical Trials to the United States to help cure Spinal Cord Injuries. In association with Team Fight to Walk, Melson, who has a record of 8-1 with 4 knockouts, donates all of his fight purses to Justadollarplease.org to help support the trial.

 

A New Jersey native, LeGrand was one of the Garden State's top recruits and earned a scholarship to play football at Rutgers in the fall of 2008. On October 16, 2010, the 6’2 275 lb Avenel native severely injured his spinal cord while attempting to tackle Malcolm Brown of Army. The two violently collided and LeGrand remained on the ground for more than three minutes before medical personnel took him off the field.

 

LeGrand was transported to the ICU at Hackensack University Medical Center, where doctors determined he was a quadriplegic. Doctors told him that every day would be a severe struggle but LeGrand refused to give up. Within three months, LeGrand was able to move his shoulders and felt sensation throughout his body. In July 2011, after working tirelessly during rehabilitation sessions, LeGrand stood upright with the aid of a walker.

 

Later that year, LeGrand led Rutgers onto the field prior to their game against West Virginia. Sports Illustrated readers voted it the best moment in 2011. On May 2, 2012, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, now coached by former  Rutgers  head coach Greg Schiano, signed the courageous 21-year-old to an honorary contract.

 

"I’m very happy to be a part of the team and a part of the journey to find a cure for spinal cord injuries,” stated LeGrand. “Everything happens for a reason and miracles happen every day.”

 

“Eric is the ultimate fighter,” said Melson, who is connected to LeGrand through Dr. Patricia Morton and the Rutgers Foundation. “My best friend Christan Zaccagnino was paralyzed in a diving accident when she was a child and I’ve spent countless hours with her, so I truly understand what Eric goes through to the best of my ability without actually being in a wheelchair myself. He’s an inspiration to people from all walks of life and his inner-strength is unbelievable. We’ve received an excellent response from the boxing community and our roster of fighters supporting the cause continues to grow, but Eric’s presence will help us reach new heights!”

 

LeGrand will be honored for his courageousness July 11 at the ESPY Awards inLos Angeles and Melson’s next bout is tentatively scheduled for August in New York City.

 

In addition to LeGrand and Melson, Team Fight to Walk is comprised of former two-time cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, title contender DeAndre “The Bull” Latimore, Edgar “El Chamaco” Santana, Hector “Machito” Camacho Jr., 2008 US Olympians Demetrius “Boo” Andrade and Shawn Estrada along with prospects Sid “The Messenger” El Harrak, Denis “Da Momma’s Boy” Douglin, Will “Power” Rosinsky, Floriano “Italiano” Pagliara, Danny “Little Mac” McDermott, Vinny “The Lion” O’Brien, Ahmed “Prince of Egypt” Samir and Delen “Sniper” Parsley.

 

For more information or to make a donation, go to teamfighttowalk.com or Justadollarplease.org. All specific questions about the nature of the Clinical Trial to cure Spinal Cord Injury can be sent to boydmelson@yahoo.com.