In 1976, while I was in the 10th grade at John Muir High School in Pasadena, a classmate of mine, Victor Wright was participating in a football game.  He was in a tackle situation and fell backward where he received a traumatic spinal injury.  He became a quadriplegic and in order to breathe and speak he's been on a respirator ever since. Doctors only gave him about 10 years to survive being quadriplegic - but, in spite of his condition, he has beaten the odds of survival for over 30 years!  He has attended all of our high school reunions and we had a tribute for him last year at the school.  We even inducted him into the John Muir High School Hall of Fame for his contributions in community service.

Victor has participated in various mentoring programs as a guest speaker and despite physical challenges, Victor has managed to complete an Associates Degree at Los Angeles City College and he helped found Family of Friends International, a non-profit organization. He is commited to living his life with dignity and meaning.

On Saturday, April 26, 2008 and Saturday, May 3, 2008, Rebuilding Together Pasadena will be rebuilding the Altadena home of Victor Wright and his family. You can volunteer your services by going to their website at http://www.rtpasadena.org Victor's house is located at 3379 N. Glenrose Avenue in Altadena, California.

If you can't donate your time and energy, Victor would like to raise money to help himself, to help his mother and to relieve the burden on relatives. His mother and all of his eight siblings have cared for him over the years. His older brother, Dexter, even changed careers to become a nurse just to help him. Victor has 3 wishes. He wishes to be trained as a financial analyst, he wishes for around-the-clock nursing care, and he wishes to write an autobiography. Tax deductable donations can be made to: Victor Wright, 3379 N. Glenrose Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001

You can read more about Victor and his accomplishments at www.victorwright.com

  Victor in 1977

Victor and team members 1999

Victor in 2001

Victor Wright Night at John Muir High School 2007