2025 was the year that the Colorado Paralysis Foundation (CPF) operationalized and transitioned from a set of goals on paper to several real-world applications. CPF’s growth and success has been a function of the Board’s tireless dedication to its mission and passion to create programs, resources, and opportunities to maximize the independence and quality of life for Coloradans living with paralysis. Board members have individually and collectively contributed to the realization of the Foundation’s achievements. Equally important, CPF has fostered relationships with individuals, organizations, and medical providers – laying the groundwork for continued growth and presence in Colorado’s paralysis community. While CPF is proud of its achievements this past year, we recognize that 2025’s achievements are only the beginning.
Highlights from the year include:
Caregiver Training Program
CPF began with the dream of creating a caregiver training program tailored to the niche skills and knowledge required to care for Coloradans living with paralysis. This dream was realized in June 2025. Throughout 2024 and into early 2025, the CPF Board worked tirelessly to create the blueprint for a holistic training experience that brings caregivers and people living with paralysis together for a training program unlike any other. We are honored to have facilitated the first training program at the Chanda Center for Health in Lakewood, Colorado. And with financial support from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, CPF was able to compensate both volunteers and caregiver participants to take part in the program.
Combining lecture-style lessons with hands-on skills applications, the program created an immersive experience for our paralyzed volunteers and caregiver participants alike. Most importantly, the program simulated the human element to caregiving by having caregiver participants interact and bond with volunteers as they learned a variety of skills. This human interaction represents the unique relationship underlying every caregiving job – especially for caregivers assisting people living with paralysis. By the end of the program, caregivers gained certificates representing their acquired knowledge and experience, but also their new relationships with our volunteers, other participants, and CPF Board members. Ultimately, the caregiver training program set a phenomenal precedent for continued training programs and a growing community of skilled, CPF-trained caregivers.
2025 Annual Reeve Summit in Denver
CPF was excited to build upon its affiliate relationship with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation at its March 2025 Annual Summit in Denver, Colorado. CPF Board members manned our Booth and represented our mission and initiatives to hundreds of attendees, presenters, organizations, and advocates throughout the Summit. CPF was honored to take part in the Summit and advance the quality of life, resources, and opportunities for all people living with spinal cord injuries.
Hiwan Golf Tournament Fundraiser
In September 2025, CPF held its first annual golf tournament fundraiser at the Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, Colorado. All slots were filled and golfers were anxious to get out on a beautiful golf course nestled amongst the front range foothills and fall Aspen foliage. However, as the early afternoon Tee Time approached, so too did a freight train of pummeling rain, lighting, and winds. Despite the usual brevity of Colorado summer afternoon rainstorms, the rain continued for SIX HOURS and prevented the golfers from playing a single hole!
But the flood didn’t wash the event away: the vast majority of golfers and patrons remained at the Golf Club – even making the most of a brief weather window to compete in a spontaneous “closest to the pin” competition before gathering to take part in the end of day speech and festivities. Ultimately, CPF raised over $30,000 from the event. And patrons are already eager to participate in the 2026 Hiwan Golf Tournament Fundraiser (which will be strategically held early in the morning to avoid another monsoon).
CPF plans to use the funds raised to advance three direct support grants for Coloradans living with paralysis. The grants will be focused on education/vocational training, home accessibility modifications, and therapeutic recreation. These grants represent CPF’s increasing capacity to expand the ways we can promote the independence of Coloradans living with paralysis.
Colorado Gives Day
CPF participated in its first annual Colorado Gives Day campaign in December 2025. We raised funds supporting education and social programs for Coloradans with disabilities, taking yet another step to establish CPF as a mainstay in the greater Colorado disability advocacy community.
Conclusion
Over the past year, CPF has taken concrete steps towards achieving its core mission, expanding its resources, and establishing itself as a community leader and beacon for Coloradans living with paralysis. From the Board’s perspective, operationalizing key programs and seeing real-world impacts has been extremely rewarding. Looking ahead into 2026 and beyond, we will continue to build upon 2025’s accomplishments. CPF has taken significant steps to fulfill its mission, but we feel that we are just beginning to scratch the surface of our potential.
About the Author
Bryce Rafferty is a Colorado attorney and disability advocate. Bryce majored in International Political Economy, enjoyed skiing and the outdoors, and laid the foundations for what he had hoped would be a life journey in music composition and guitar. Bryce’s ambitions were stalled when he sustained a severe spinal cord injury from a shallow water diving accident in August 2009 that left him a C5/6 quadriplegic. As a young attorney, Bryce now looks to be a zealous advocate for Coloradoans generally while continuing to work alongside his colleagues in the disabled community to improve their quality of life and equal access to needed services and vocational opportunities both in-state and nationwide.
