Scott Burrows will be the guest speaker for the 6th Annual “Possibilities: Siskin Hospital Celebrates Life Beyond Disability” Luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
At the age of 19, Mr. Burrows was living his dream of playing football for Bobby Bowden at Florida State University. He was also ranked number one in the state of Florida's Light-Heavy Weight Kick Boxing Division, when tragedy struck.
A single car accident left Mr. Burrows paralyzed from the chest down, classifying him as a quadriplegic and instantly changing his life. Mr. Burrow's life had taken an unforeseen turn and his dreams were shattered, as this multi-talented athlete was now confined to a wheelchair.
While in recovery, Mr. Burrows realized he had two choices in life: he could take control of his life or let life take control of him. From that moment forward, he determined that his disability would not define him. Rather than being sidelined in the game of life, he worked hard to accomplish his goals.
Mr. Burrows now uses his own success formula of Vision, Mindset and Grit to maximize untapped potential and excel in any challenge he faces. He is an international business owner, wheelchair athlete, author, and renowned professional and motivational speaker. He challenges himself with golf, full-contact wheelchair rugby, wheelchair marathons, skiing, scuba diving, and parasailing. The fear of being a quadriplegic could have ended his dreams, but Mr. Burrows refused to be sidelined and decided instead to Play Up the Possibilities.
The Possibilities Luncheon will feature personal accounts of how individuals have overcome their disabilities to accomplish amazing things. There will be a patient video with heartwarming footage of Siskin Hospital patients who have a miraculous recovery story to share. Love, courage, and perseverance helped each person turn tragedy into triumph, as they discovered that life is full of possibilities, officials said.
A steering committee is working with Siskin Hospital employees to help coordinate the luncheon and Michael and Paige Mathis are serving as the 2009 steering committee co-chairs. The Possibilities Luncheon is Siskin Hospital’s largest community-wide fundraising event, with proceeds helping to provide needed services for patients without adequate insurance to cover the cost of their care. Siskin Hospital would like to thank Unum for their continued support as the Primary Sponsor of the Possibilities Luncheon for six years.
Individual tickets to the event are $65. Patron and Crystal Sponsorship Tables of eight are available for $1,000 and $1,500. This year, Siskin Hospital will provide new sponsorship levels, which include a Feature Patient Honoree Table of eight for $5,000, as well as a Former Patient Honorary or Memorial Table of eight for $2,500.
For more information or to reserve a place at the Possibilities Luncheon, please contact Sandy Howell by phone at (423) 634.1208 or by email at showell@siskinrehab.org. Online registration and donation opportunities are also available by visiting www.siskinrehab.org.