VCU View

Foundation for spinal cord injury research presents gift to VCU Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

1/6/2009

From left: Macon Sizemore, director of Rehabilitation Services for the VCU Health System; Cheryl Sutton, cousin of Gerry Bertier; Mac Church, deputy director for promotions, Bertier Foundation; Buck Sutton, executive director of Bertier Foundation; Rodney Cahow, call center coordinator, Bertier Foundation; Patrick Ross, visual marketing; William McKinley, M.D., professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Photo by Malorie Janis, VCU Communications and Public Relations

The Gerry Bertier #42 Foundation has presented the Virginia Commonwealth University Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation and Research Center with a gift of $28,000.

This is the third gift that the department has received from the foundation.

The foundation raised the money last year during a golf tournament and radio telethon in memory of Bertier, a Virginia high school athletic star who suffered a spinal cord injury and later became an advocate for people with disabilities.

“You guys are the heroes, you have patients that may never walk again and you are the people that bring back their smiles,” said Buck Sutton, Bertier’s cousin and executive director of the Bertier #42 Foundation. “You’re the miracle workers, you’re the magic. You’re why we do what we do here.”

William McKinley, M.D., professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, accepted the gift on behalf of the center.

Sutton also recognized Bertier’s mother, Jean Agnew, who was unable to attend the presentation due to her ailing health. Agnew had visited VCU Medical Center in 2007 and last year in support of the foundation and VCU’s efforts in spinal cord injury research.

Bertier was portrayed in the 2000 film “Remember the Titans,” which starred Denzel Washington as the coach of the T.C. Williams High School football team in Alexandria following the school’s desegregation.

In the film, Bertier’s character, an all-star player, is in an automobile accident while celebrating one of the team's victories and is sent to the hospital. While Bertier’s character is unable to play in the final game because of his injuries, the team goes on to win the championship and sets an example for the town.

The foundation has been actively involved with the VCU Medical Center in raising awareness for spinal cord injury treatments.

“We have watched and followed the amazing work that you bring to every one of your patients, and we hope that Gerry was surrounded by a facility and staff like yours,” Sutton said. “All of the money this foundation receives goes to VCU. You are our champions, you are who we support.”

VCU is one of just 20 institutions nationwide to achieve federal designation as a Model Systems of Spinal Cord Injury Care. The goal of VCU’s SCI program is to pursue medical and therapeutic advancements in care and outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injuries. For more information, visit http://www.pmr.vcu.edu/programs/sci/default.aspx.

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