Nicknamed "Halo Man" by friends from the immobilization device he wore post-injury, Alan Robinson truly serves as a beacon of light for many. In 1991, Robinson smashed his car into three light poles and a viaduct, resulting in a disability of incomplete quadriplegia. Fifteen years post-injury, Robinson has chosen to embrace his disability as a gift, and inspires people with and without disabilities to lead healthy lives and follow their dreams. He insists that we all "leave so much behind for others to follow," and that people with disabilities should not be afraid to pursue their goals in concert with the resources available from organizations.

Robinson regularly "dances" on the Stairmaster for 3 to 5 hours daily at Bally’s in Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois. He insists that fitness is a spiritual art, and that it should be practiced to encourage and inspire others. And so he does. As the second person with quadriplegia to run a marathon, and the first to run four marathons, he is developing the Halo Man Foundation for the prevention and recovery of persons with spinal cord injury. To raise money for this foundation, he plans to run in the Boston Marathon on April 17, 2006, conduct a 24-hour telethon at Bally’s, run across the state of Illinois in May 2006, and run across the U.S. within the next year when funds are available. Moreover, he currently is writing a book on his experiences and his faith in wellness and recovery.

Robinson is dedicating upcoming events in 2006 and 2007 to Dr. Suzan Rayner from Schwab Rehabilitation in Chicago, Illinois, who gave him the will to live and inspired him to reach his potential. He notes that there is an important distinction between physical and spiritual disabilities: while those with spiritual disabilities quit and accept their limitations, those with faith allow the life force to work through them, and both receive and give love. He is confident that his openness to the flow of love in his life has allowed him to recover and assume greater responsibilities and challenges in his life.

NCHPAD can support Robinson with his work with the NCHPAD programs database to locate exercise opportunities for persons with disabilities, the NCHPAD personal trainer’s database to locate information on trainers for persons with disabilities in certain geographic locations, as well as information on how to exercise safely with specific disabilities (http://www.ncpad.org/content/7/Disability~Condition).

For more information on the Halo Man Foundation, contact Alan Robinson at 773-536-0792 or 773-310-0496.