Now a full-fledged charity, SIM holds gala By John Bkila OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A non-profit organization that helps spinal cord injury (SCI) patients get the physiotherapy they need is hosting its inaugural gala fundraiser Thursday, May 31 after recently receiving charitable status. Though Support in Motion (SIM) has been in the works for several years while its founder and executive director Diane Talbot-Schoenhoff raised money behind the scenes, it became fully incorporated in February 2011. "Now that we have obtained our Federal Charitable Status, we are poised to grow significantly as an organization," Talbot-Schoenhoff said. It all began when the Oakville resident's son, Nick Schoenhoff, recovered quickly after sustaining a spinal cord injury while snowboarding. "I recognized there was a need out there to provide more physiotherapy for children with spinal cord injuries...," Talbot-Schoenhoff said in an earlier interview with the Beaver. "In Ontario, there is no specialized outpatient rehab for children with spinal cord injuries." Instead, many have to rely on priunder the How To Apply menu tab. As a not-for-profit organization, SIM's founder said the charity has received nearly $45,000 in grants from the Rick Hansen Foundation, Oakville Shrine Club and private donations. The inaugural fundraising gala will be held at the Harbour Banquet and Conference Centre, 2340 Ontario St. Cocktails are at 6:30 p.m., dinner is at 7:15 p.m. Tickets cost $100 with proceeds going towards providing the outpatient, specialized rehabilitation to youths with spinal cord injuries living in Ontario. For more information, visit the organization's website or e-mail diane@supportinmotion.ca. -- with Oakville Beaver files. 19 · Thursday, May 17, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com SAVE UP TO $2700 ON NEW FURNACE & AIR CONDITIONER $700 OFF HI-EFFICIENCY CENTRAL AIR BIGGEST SALE EVER! WAS $ OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTO SUPPORT IN MOTION: Nick Schoenhoff pictured at home with his mother Diane Talbot-Schoenhoff and father Gerald Schoenhoff. vate physiotherapy sessions, which can cost approximately $14,000 a year. This motivated Talbot-Schoenhoff to form SIM to help improve neurological rehabilitation outcomes for young people with spinal cord injuries, transitioning from youth to adult services, while helping lift the financial burden of the much-needed treatment from families. Since January 2011, SIM has helped three youths in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). "Fifty-one kids, ages 12-17, have sustained spinal cord injuries in Ontario between 2003-07. We have a plan to reach as many of these kids as possible by contacting all of Ontario's children's treatment centres this month to inform any client families that we're accepting new applications," said Talbot-Schoenhoff. New applications can be downloaded at www.supportinmotion.ca, PRICE MATC H GUARANTEE. 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