In an attempt to complete the first-ever double front-flip before a live audience; Cook, 26 stunned a packed house on the opening night of the 2014 Nitro Circus tour in Hamilton, Ontario. What should have been a record-setting stunt turned fatal when Cook under-rotated and flew off his bike; crushing his body and spine in the process. Cook sustained a spinal cord injury and has since been dreaming of the day when life in a wheelchair is an afterthought.
Instead of completing the Nitro Circus Tour, Cook spent the next 60 days in-and-out of hospitals before finally setting his sights on the Project Walk Paralysis Recovery Center in San Diego, CA.
Based on The Dardzinski Method, Project Walk is the pioneer in activity-based recovery with nearly two decades of experience working with spinal cord injuries. It’s the Project Walk mission to provide an improved quality of life for people living with a spinal cord injury, paralysis or mobility-related disorder through intense activity-based recovery backed by research and technology.
It was the Project Walk mission that first enticed Cook to consider traveling to San Diego to partake in a facility recovery program.
“My sister found you [Project Walk] online when researching recovery options- and I liked what I saw,” says Cook. “When my doctors would say that there was little-to-no-hope of me getting out of my wheelchair, I wouldn’t listen. I liked that Project Walk believes differently and they have a real ‘can-do’ attitude.”
Project Walk focuses on getting clients out of their wheelchair to work below the level of injury; a different approach than most outpatient programs. For Cook, this method has been nothing short of beneficial.
In reflecting on his first weeks in the program, Cook says, “I was able to connect and feel specific muscle groups again; something I wasn’t supposed to do. It was amazing!”
Cook has high hopes for his recovery and is scheduled to spend the coming months working out at Project Walk.
Easily one of the most beloved stunt bikers in the industry, Cook’s online following says it all. With over 11,000 fans on Instagram and 27,000 on Facebook, Cook’s cheering section anxiously waits for progress updates while posting comments of encouragement.
When asked if he would like to return to the motocross scene, Cook says, “For now, I am taking this new life and this injury day-by-day. But the gains I’m making here [Project Walk] keep me going so we will just have to see.”
For more information on Project Walk and clients like Bruce, visit the Project Walk website at http://www.ProjectWalk.com.
To help Bruce in his recovery efforts, please visit: mymerch.ca/brucecook/.
