WUFT-TV/FM | WJUF-FM
1200 Weimer Hall | P.O. Box 118405
Gainesville, FL 32611
(352) 392-5551

A service of the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida.

© 2024 WUFT / Division of Media Properties
News and Public Media for North Central Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bicycling across America to help others with spinal cord injuries

Nearly five years ago Mark Stephanfrom suffered a horrific spinal cord injury in a bicycle accident in Chicago.  Though he was told he would be a quadriplegic and never walk again, the determined athlete went into six months of intensive therapy with personal trainers.  The grueling work culminated in his most recent accomplishment ---climbing 103 floors to the top of the tallest building in North America.  Now Stephan is cycling across the country to bring awareness to the issue of spinal cord injuries and to raise money for a new specialized hospital to treat patients with such injuries.  He'll arrive in Alachua tonight and leave for Palatka and St. Augustine tomorrow.  Stephan talked with Florida's 89.1, WUFT-FM's Donna Green-Townsend about his message:

http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/FPWebMarkStephanQA.mp3

Stephan is inviting other cyclists to join him on his ride.  He should be leaving from the Quality Inn in Alachua at around 8:30 a.m.  For more information his project coordinator Lincoln Baker at 406-546-9317.  To learn more about Mark Stephan go online to http://www.stephanchallenge.com

Donna is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.