R0LL MODEL 52

By Debbie Meehan

As if Eric LeGrand wasn’t busy enough, on August 12, 2019 Eric launched a brand new clothing line called “Roll Model 52”.
The concept behind the line is that Eric wanted to create a great fitting shirt but at the same time have it reflect his personality and passion for life. So after talking to a friend about the logo, his friend said, “E you have to take out the O and put in a handicap sign like the wheel of your wheelchair” and of course the number 52, which was Eric’s jersey number, and he hasn’t turned back since. The sale of Eric’s shirt has taken off and he now intends to do a whole clothing line which will include pants, work out clothes, long sleeve shirts, hats, dog shirts and many more items, all of course with his “Roll Model 52” logo.

Eric, who never asked to become a role model, did so on October 16, 2010, after he suffered a severe spinal cord injury while playing for Rutgers during a game against Army at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Eric was put on a respirator right away to help him breathe, and doctors informed his mother that he would more than likely need the aid of the machine to continue breathing for the rest of his life. Doctors also informed his mom, Karen LeGrand, that her son had a suspected 0–5% chance of ever walking again. The next day when Eric woke up, he nevertheless managed to mouth the words, “I’ll be back” to his mother.

Since that injury, Eric has become an inspiration not only to the football world, but to an entire nation. Eric proved how his injury would not define the man he was or the things he could accomplish in his life.

A lifelong resident of Avenel, Eric never forgets where he came from. He spends many hours visiting local schools here in Woodbridge Township and of course always finding the time to stop and talk to the football players at his alma mater, Colonia High School, where he played during high school.

He says when he talks to the kids they always think of him as a celebrity, but to Eric he just considers himself a kid from Avenel NJ, who was raised by his mom the right way and who guided him to find the right path for his life. He wants to share those lessons with everyone he meets, especially the lesson to never to give up hope, no matter how bad life may get, because Eric believes, there is always hope.

Eric is truly grateful to the community of Woodbridge Township that has embraced him and rallied around him since his injury and continues to rally around him today.
“That’s why I never left this community, I love it here. The people have been so good to me, the mayor is always one call away and they even named a park for me,” he laughs. “This will always be my home, I am truly humbled by all the love and support I feel here and I know that Woodbridge Township will always have my back, they will always answer my call because they believe in me.
His message always remains the same, “I am genuinely a happy person, what you see from me is what you get. People may think, how could a guy in my condition be happy in the situation I am in, but I wake up every day blessed because I have been given another day to live this life, and I’m going to live it the best I can.” And by the smile on his face there is no doubt that is his motto.
Eric continues to advocate for spinal cord injuries through many different foundations and also does some sports broadcasting. But right now his sights are set on campaigning over the next year so that by the tenth year of his injury in October of 2020 he will have raised ten million dollars for his Eric LeGrand foundation to help those with spinal cord injuries.

Eric has now set a challenge to anyone wanting to help him raise money, “Buy a Roll Model T-shirt” and then challenge someone else to buy one and not only will we be raising money for his foundation we will be spreading a solid Eric LeGrand message to our community; Be Positive, Be a Role Model and never stop bELieving you can do anything you set out to do.
To order a T-shirt and take Eric’s challenge visit EricLeGrand52.com/SHOP
We BELieve Eric…Keep Chopping!

Recently Eric LeGrand wrote a letter to himself called “What I Now Know” which the Reeve Foundation asked him to write as part of their #WhatINowKnow series for #SCIAwareness. The letter is written as if he were to go back in time and share some of the lessons learned and experiences gathered with his former self, what would he say? Eric hopes his words will help others find the courage and strength they need should they experience a devastating injury as he did.

WHAT I NOW KNOW
Dear Eric,

Right now, you are in the hospital trying to sleep but the noises — the constant beeping of the machines are keeping you awake. You were just told you have a spinal cord injury. The last thing you remember is laying on the football field after a fourth quarter play went wrong. It was so hard to breathe, impossible to speak, and you were scared. You had your coach, the team, and your mother by your side. You prayed it would be fine. It had to be fine.

By now, you realize the tackle was far worse than you imagined. The nurses take shifts to keep you company at night so your mom can rest and you are not alone. What you don’t know but will soon learn is that the doctors told your mom you fractured your C-3 and C-4 vertebrae and gave you a zero to 5 percent chance of regaining neurologic function. They said you would never walk, never move anything below your neck, and you may never eat solid foods again. But they don’t know you. They don’t know the titan inside your soul, the mental and physical strength you built from being a top athlete. The word never does not apply to Eric LeGrand and you will prove them wrong.

You proved them wrong a few weeks later when you came off the ventilator and took your first few breaths unassisted. You proved them wrong when you ate Thanksgiving dinner in the hospital and the food tasted awesome. You proved them wrong when you pushed yourself every day at therapy and started to regain function and sensation below your neck. You proved them wrong when you graduated from Rutgers and gave the commencement address. And, you continue to prove them wrong as you take on new challenges and set ambitious goals for your future.

The reason you have this drive and stamina to keep pushing are the people around you. From the moment you were injured, your family, friends, coaches and teammates formed a protective huddle. They kept your spirits up, always smiling and cracking jokes. You will realize the closeness and strength of your family, especially your mom who has always been your hero but she transformed into a real-life Wonder Woman. She learned how to take care of you and made your health and recovery her No. 1 priority. She is the defender of your future and never lets any obstacle stand in the way of your success.

Right now, you are scared and that’s fine. You will be scared, frustrated, and even angry some days. But, for every bad day, there will be ten good ones. For every set back, there is an even bigger win within reach. And, any moment of sadness is washed away by the joy of having so many people cheer you on. Your future is brighter than you ever imagined, and you will meet people — celebrities, athletes, politicians — who will be moved by your story and grounded by your determination. Your voice will reach millions and you will have the chance to help so many people facing paralysis by giving them hope. You will work with the Reeve Foundation — Superman’s Foundation — and raise over $1 million for spinal cord research.

As you approach ten years post-injury, you will not look back or ask, “Why me?”. You will only be excited for what’s next and realize your spinal cord injury is only part of you, not all of you.

You will believe anything is possible. And, you are right.
Eric LeGrand