Welcome Friends,

This is our 30th year of hosting events.  I am speechless when reminiscing on all the amazing connections we have made, with people from all over our country.  I have met so many families that have no idea of what to do, as one of their loved ones has just suffered a devastating Spinal Cord Injury.  My mission is to continue raising awareness for the next unexpected family and be there for them with as much support and information as I can.  Every spinal injured person needs to know that they can keep their body in shape by finding a facility in their area that offers a Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike (FES).  Because of our tournament donations and special donors, we now have two of these bikes right here at our brand-new YMCA.  I am very excited to say that because of you and all of our supporters, we are in the process of purchasing a new FES bike for many injured people living in Monroe County (Rochester).  If plans work out, this new FES bike will be available at the Pieters Family Life Center in Rochester very soon.  This warms my heart, knowing that so many people will be benefiting from it.  I would never be able to do things like this if it wasn’t for all of you participating in our different events throughout the year.

                Also, this year, the Palermo family is thrilled to have JT Turnbull and his family team up to make the foundation even better. For those of you who don’t know JT or Ricky yet, here is a quick bio on both of them.

  Ricky was born in Batavia 1960, to Virginia and Patsy Palermo, the youngest of 3 siblings, Patty and Jim.  He attended St. Josephs Elementary until 4th grade, and then attended Byron-Bergen. He worked four years as a carpenter, but was injured in a truck accident one week after his 21st birthday.  Growing up, Ricky followed in the footsteps of his brother Jim who also was a three sport athlete at Byron Bergen Central School.  They both played soccer/basketball/baseball and in doing so, they join only one other athlete at BBCS who has ever received the Athlete of the Year Award and MVP of all three sports in their senior year.  He loves to stay busy and do fun things with family and good friends.  He and his friends still make the time to get him into a 20 foot high “tree stand”, during most deer seasons!  If you don’t know Ricky yet, you will soon realize that he has dedicated his life to staying in shape and finding a CURE for Paralysis!

  JT was born and raised in Batavia 1999.  He went to Robert Morris elementary school, Batavia Middle/High School, Siena College and University at Buffalo.  JT was an avid skier and golfer and played hockey for the Batavia Ramparts, the Rochester jr Americans, and was the goaltender at Batavia High and Siena College.  After his skiing injury 2 years ago JT now plays sled hockey for the Buffalo Stampede, as a goalie.  His parents are Michelle and Tom Turnbull and he is engaged to Emily Morrill with plans of being married October 2027.  You can frequently find him and Emily playing golf with a new state-of-the-art “golf-cart” called the Vertacat.  I hope you had the chance to meet the new teammate JT.  He and Ricky refuse to be held back and would rather concentrate on what they can do, rather than what they can’t!  They Thank all of you, and hundreds of others that continue to support this foundation year after year.

This years tournamant had an all-time record for us as we hosted 57 teams.  One team more than the old record of 56 teams set in 2013.  This event, along with the Comedy Show, Motorcycle Dice Run and the kids soccer clinic were all fun events that spread awareness and raised money that will continue to go to people in our community, and research at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.  Our foundation has now raised and donated more than $2.3 million!  Please continue to watch our website www.RickyPalermofoundation.org and help JT and Ricky spread the word to help make even more friends that will help drive research closer to a Cure!!

Our foundation is thrilled to see what happens when we all pull together!!!!!

THANK YOU FROM THE PALERMO AND TURNBULL FAMILIES.

Sincerely,

Ricky