About Friends for Michael

Ten years ago, many lives changed due to the traumatic spinal cord injuries suffered by Michael Brent, then 18 yrs old and on top of the world. In a single moment, the life of this athletically and academically gifted young man, along with that of his family and friends, changed as well. Michael was on his way home from Valhalla Golf Club after working as a caddy. July 21,1997 was an extremely hot summer day, but being the dedicated young man that he was, Michael was trying to improve his game to compete at the college level. (He had received a golf scholarship to Campbellsville University). Caddying at Valhalla gave him the opportunity to play the challenging course as well. Michael apparently had become more overheated than he realized. As he drove home from the golf course he blacked out, flipped his car several times and suffered a severed spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. (C4/C5 injury)

Now, ten years later, lives have changed again. Michael’s sudden death has left a void in the lives of many. But his strength, determination and his “never say never” attitude taught us all how to live. From the moment of his accident, Michael did not feel sorry for himself. He worried about those around him and how they were surviving it. His smile was one that people saw for miles and will remember forever. His will to live a full life, no matter what the obstacle, is something we all learned from him. Michael set an example like no other. What he accomplished in 27 years is more than most will accomplish in a full lifetime. Below is a brief history of Michael and his inspiration and determination behind Friends For Michael.

Just a few weeks directly after the accident, friends and family organized a car wash and bake sale to raise funds for the astronomical expenses the Brent family faced. $1600 was raised at this fundraiser and many events followed, thus came the name, “Friends for Michael”. Within the next year the group raised enough money to pay off Michael’s handicap accessible van and to help with some of the many other expenses that insurance does not cover.

Throughout the first year, not only did Friends for Michael realize the expenses for Michael, but they also understood the need that many people incur when faced with such a life changing injury. To name a few of the things that we do:

• 1999 -incorporated, becoming a 501 ( c ) 3 non profit organization
• 2001 – joined efforts with Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at the University of Louisville
• Annual fundraisers: Golf Scramble, 5K Run Walk & Wheel, Dairy Queen Day
• Annual poster contest throughout Henry County & Eminence School Districts
• 2003 – became 1 of 3 founding members of the Spinal Cord Injury Association of KY
• 2005- Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center names Postdoctoral Fellowship in honor of Friends For Michael
• Annual Ms. Kentucky Wheelchair Sponsor
• $85,000 donated to Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center
• Annual supporter of Barren Heights Retreat, offers free retreat weekends for for physically and mentally disabled children and their families.
• Annual $500 scholarship to local high school student
• Numerous grants to spinal cord injury survivors and much more!

Friends for Michael provides annual activities for disabled children and adults as well. Some of those activities include Disability Days at Kentucky Speedway. (we had 100 participants last year from all over Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and Indiana) This event gives people of all ages the chance to go “behind the scenes” of an Indy Car race, tour the track, garages/pits, meet and greet team owners and drivers, see a race “close up and personal” and enjoy lunch provided by Outback Steakhouse and the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation; A Day at the Races at Churchill Downs, is an activity everyone can enjoy together. Millionaire row seating, presentation of the silver tray to the winning jockey/owner/trainer of the race sponsored by Friends For Michael and the chance to meet and talk with other spinal cord injury survivors makes this a wonderful day…these are just a couple of our fun activities.

Not only has Friends For Michael accomplished much on a local, state, regional and national level over the past 10 years, but Michael, himself, was a big part of the inspiration to continue our efforts. Michael went on to continue his college career at the University of Kentucky earning his Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism in 2004. He also was awarded UK’s Adelstein Award, given to students with disabilities who are an inspiration to others. He returned to school in the fall of 2004 to pursue his Masters degree and work as a reporter for the “Cat’s Pause”, a weekly print and online publication, about the University of Kentucky sports programs. Michael was also an active member of the Phi Kappa Phi Fraternity.

On April 17, 2007, only two and a half weeks before time to receive his Master’s degree, Michael suddenly became ill, suffered a perforated ulcer and passed away within hours of the onset, leaving behind a legacy of his own. Just as Michael faced life with a vengeance, he also faced death with it as well.

To keep Michael’s spirit alive, Friends For Michael will continue it’s efforts to help find a cure for spinal cord injury/disease, help others live a quality of life, provide spinal cord injury prevention and awareness, keep the importance of research in the fore front of the public and help others succeed in what they want in life.

Our newest project, just in its planning stages, is to build a fully handicap accessible playground in the NEW community park being built in Henry County. This park will be accessible for all ages and will provide recreation and entertainment for the disabled and able bodied population. This facility will be centrally located for many individuals who would otherwise have to travel a hundred miles or more to have a place to enjoy. Needless to say, we will name this playground after Michael and Friends For Michael so people will remember the wonderful person Michael was, the many successes he accomplished and the goals he left behind for us to keep reaching for.

We need your help more than ever now. Michael’s sudden and untimely death reminds us how fragile life is and how important it is to find a cure for spinal cord injury. I ask you to PLEASE consider giving generously to our organization so we can continue to make dreams come true for others and hopefully help find a cure. I have included a paper written by Michael just last fall. After reading it, I think you will understand why Michael was and is admired by so many.