SF Based "Comedy for a Spinal Cause" Uses Laughter to Help Victims of Spinal Cord Injury to Get Back on Their Feet
Started in San Francisco, CFASC is a quarterly fundraising event bringing together top comedians & the local community to assist incredible individuals on their road to Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) recovery. Rather than encouraging people to donate to a blanket cause, CFASC works with local SCI physical therapy centers to identify those in need and hosts fundraising comedy shows featuring the best of upcoming and established full time comedians.
San Francisco, CA, October 29, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Started in San Francisco, CFASC is a quarterly fundraising event bringing together top comedians & the local community to assist incredible individuals on their road to Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) recovery. Rather than encouraging people to donate to a blanket cause, CFASC works with local SCI physical therapy centers to identify those in need and hosts fundraising comedy shows featuring the best of upcoming and established full time comedians. All funds go straight to the individual which helps with their rehabilitation and therapy costs. Insurance plans rarely cover anything beyond the most basic medical care after this devastating injury so the cost of continuing therapy and life altering rehabilitation nearly always gets passed onto the victims of these tragic injuries.
CFASC's inaugural event supported SF resident Arash Baytamakou, who suffered a cervical Spinal Cord Injury in July of 2012 in a horrific fall which left him paralyzed from the chest down. Following seven weeks in the hospital and acute rehab, his insurance promptly discontinued all therapy, even refusing to pay for his wheelchair and basic home health equipment. The potential for the most minimal ongoing therapy that would maintain his health was repeatedly denied, leaving him on his own to find other ways to pay for the therapy that could give him the chance to someday walk again. The show, held in August and headlined by Comedian Tim Lee, raised over $5,000 and provided a great night of community and laughter.
According to Arash, “it was amazing to see how the community came together in this event to help me in my efforts of recovery. Unfortunately, victims of SCI are almost always left without any therapy or hope of recovery so it's fantastic to have an event like this to provide badly needed financial support and laughter that can renew motivation and optimism for the long recovery process.”
CFASC aims to roll out these events to all major cities in the US in partnership with top local comedians generously donating their time, and rehabilitation facilities identifying people in need.
Their next SF event will be on November 21st at 7pm at the Barrel House, supporting Foster City resident Julia Olson who, after a serious car accident in 2009 was left a quadriplegic with very little function below her neck. Told countless times by healthcare professionals that she would never use her arms and hands, let alone walk, Julia continues to prove them wrong and surpass expectations through intense physical therapy at a specialized rehabilitation center. The show will feature several of California’s finest comedians including Kabir "Kabeezy" Singh, described as "One of the must see Stand-Up Comedians in the U.S." by TV Asia.
CFASC's inaugural event supported SF resident Arash Baytamakou, who suffered a cervical Spinal Cord Injury in July of 2012 in a horrific fall which left him paralyzed from the chest down. Following seven weeks in the hospital and acute rehab, his insurance promptly discontinued all therapy, even refusing to pay for his wheelchair and basic home health equipment. The potential for the most minimal ongoing therapy that would maintain his health was repeatedly denied, leaving him on his own to find other ways to pay for the therapy that could give him the chance to someday walk again. The show, held in August and headlined by Comedian Tim Lee, raised over $5,000 and provided a great night of community and laughter.
According to Arash, “it was amazing to see how the community came together in this event to help me in my efforts of recovery. Unfortunately, victims of SCI are almost always left without any therapy or hope of recovery so it's fantastic to have an event like this to provide badly needed financial support and laughter that can renew motivation and optimism for the long recovery process.”
CFASC aims to roll out these events to all major cities in the US in partnership with top local comedians generously donating their time, and rehabilitation facilities identifying people in need.
Their next SF event will be on November 21st at 7pm at the Barrel House, supporting Foster City resident Julia Olson who, after a serious car accident in 2009 was left a quadriplegic with very little function below her neck. Told countless times by healthcare professionals that she would never use her arms and hands, let alone walk, Julia continues to prove them wrong and surpass expectations through intense physical therapy at a specialized rehabilitation center. The show will feature several of California’s finest comedians including Kabir "Kabeezy" Singh, described as "One of the must see Stand-Up Comedians in the U.S." by TV Asia.
Contact
Comedy for a spinal casue
David Nihill
415-990-5185
www.facebook.com/comedyforaspinalcause
David Nihill
415-990-5185
www.facebook.com/comedyforaspinalcause
Contact
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