Adam Taliaferro, who defied doctors’ expectations by walking again after a serious spinal injury, is to appear tonight on a TV show featuring inspirational stories of paralysis victims.
Taliaferro, paralyzed five years ago as a freshman football player at Penn State University, will tell his story on It’s Your Call with Lynn Doyle.
The former South Jersey football standout graduated from Penn State last month with a degree in labor studies and industrial relations. The Winslow resident now is enrolled in Rutgers-Camden Law School and plans to become a sports agent.
Taliaferro will be one of three South Jersey residents featured on the show, which also will focus on research on paralysis and other issues.
Also appearing will be Chris Miles, a Moorestown businessman whose mother-in-law suffered a spinal cord injury; and Anthony Leale, a Mount Holly man who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident.
The broadcast is taking place on the same night as “A Step Toward Hope,” a Mount Laurel fundraiser for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.
Both the show and the fundraiser will feature Dana Reeve, the widow of actor Christopher Reeve.
Miles’ company, Miles Technologies, is the event’s host and sponsor. The Courier-Post also is a sponsor of the fundraiser, and Doyle is honorary chairwoman.
Taliaferro, a 2000 Eastern High School graduate, was hurt during a football game in September 2000. Doctors predicted he would never walk again.
But Taliaferro did walk – with the aid of crutches in three months, and on his own after six months.
“It was tough getting hurt at first, but from there on out it was all positive,” he said of his long and difficult comeback.
Taliaferro said he was helped by his own determination, as well as support from his family and his hometown of Voorhees.
He resumed classes at Penn State and, on Sept. 1, 2001, ran onto the field with Penn State’s team before the school’s home opener.
“That was a big accomplishment for me, just being able to get back out there,” said Taliaferro.
To donate to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, visit www.christopherreeve.org or call (800) 225-0292. Donations can be mailed to: 500 Morris Ave., Springfield 07081. ON TV
Adam Taliaferro will be on CN8 at 9 p.m. today.
By MATT DONER – For the Courier-Post
