By Ryan Palencer
BROWNSBURG — After an accident left John Wassen paralyzed from the shoulders down, good friends Jim and Skip Tennancour, along with John’s wife Tamie, took action.
The four, who began with just a vision to not only raise money for the Wassen family, but also to begin an organization to assist other people with spinal cord injuries, will celebrate their one-year anniversary of the SCI Hope Fund next month.
“March will be our one-year anniversary,” Jim said. “We kicked off last March. I think we’ve helped five individuals. It’s been neat just to see the joy in their faces.”
They are expecting about 225 people to attend a dinner and auction, which is a similar crowd to last year’s kick-off event.
“The difference this year is that we have transitioned from fundraising personally for the Wassen family to fundraising for the SCI Hope Fund,” Skip said. “We are no longer funding the Wassens. This year will be the transition year, so we think that we’ll be even from last year.”
Angela Ganote will act as master of ceremonies for this year’s event, just as she did last year. Joe Staysniak will be the keynote speaker.
In addition to the dinner and auction, they have a golf outing planned for Sept. 17 and a motorcycle ride on the following day by the Plainfield Eagle riders. From May 10-15, a pair of Brownsburg schools are assisting the fund with a putt-putt challenge.
“John has been working with two classes from the Brownsburg School Corporation,” Tamie said. “As their service learning project, they’re bringing awareness to individuals with disabilities. They’ve decided to build and put together a putt-putt course that will be at Reagan Elementary, in the parking lot. They’ve been working all year to promote it ... all of the proceeds will go to the SCI Hope Fund.”
John goes in at least once a week to meet with the class.
“It has been fun to watch,” Tamie said. “He’s gone from being the novelty item, where he’s a mystery and they’re checking out his chair, to now he’s just Mr. Wassen. He’s just the guy who happens to be in the chair. It’s kind of a life lesson for them.”
In addition to working with the students, the group has been working to raise awareness for individuals with paralysis throughout the community.
“One of the main things for us in an organization like this is getting awareness out,” Skip said. “People aren’t likely to participate or give money unless they have an understanding of what they’re doing. When you’re talking about paralysis, people don’t understand it and see it every day. People are afraid of it. They walk by people in a wheelchair and just kind of don’t look.”
The assistance for the families varies from purchasing a rugby wheelchair, to home renovations, to a handicapped-accessible van.
The SCI Hope Fund works along with the Hendricks County Community Foundation.
Though they do not currently have families needing assistance, they are accepting applications online. For more information or to apply, visit the website at www.scihope.org.
ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com
