Still another inspiring story this week, this time from North Carolina in the North Carolina Extension News. Jonathan Greeson of Pikeville in Wayne County always dreamed of playing hockey. Mr. Greeson has spinal muscular atrophy and is confined to a wheelchair, but he decided not to let that stop him. In 2002, Mr. Greeson founded the Carolina Fury under the umbrella of N.C. Electric Hockey Wheelchair Association.

At the time, three players from Jacksonville, Burlington and Raleigh – where Greeson lived as a student – practiced in Cary. Today, the Carolina Fury has eight regular players from across the state. The sport is competitive, Greeson says, with rules that are similar to regulation hockey.

The team does not play on ice. Their home court is the gymnasium of Charles B. Aycock High School in Pikeville, Greeson’s high school alma mater, and their main opponents are able-bodied players who take on the Fury from wheelchairs. Though the opposing teams always put up a fight, it is usually the Fury that comes out on top.

The Fury has set a goal of competing in the PowerHockey World Championships every two years. In 2004, the team competed in Minneapolis, and in 2006, they competed in the PowerHockey Cup in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Greeson said the team drove to the competition – about five days on the road.

Greeson acknowledges that participating in PowerHockey requires support. “You have to have a really good family,” he said.

You can read the entire article on the Extension Online News blog.

Fans of the Fury can even buy merchandise. A selection of t-shirts, hats, posters, and other items can be found here. You can even find merchandise specifically with Mr. Greeson’s name and number!

There was an inspiring article this week in the Victorville (California) Daily Press about a woman who is defying the odds. Reporter Ryan Orr introduces us to Sherry Pierce, a 40-year-old Victorville resident who has spinal muscular atrophy.

Here’s an excerpt from the story:

Some women inspire others by running for office, or giving to charity, or standing in a picket line, or keeping their seat at the front of the bus. Sherri Pierce inspires people by simply getting up and going to work everyday.

Pierce was born with spinal muscular atrophy and has been confined to a wheelchair since she was 3. She remembers when she was very little, being able to stand but only for a short while before her legs would give out. It is a degenerative muscle disease. As time passes, her condition worsens. But that has done nothing to weaken her resolve. She is overwhelmingly positive.

She celebrated her 40th birthday in early February, making her life 36 years longer than doctors had predicted to her parents. Everyday she continues to defy the odds and no longer bothers with doctor’s opinions. In fact, she describes herself as somewhat anti-doctor.

“Doctors don’t always know the power of positive thinking,” she said.

Pierce works as a counselor for students with disabilities at Victor Valley College, where she earned her associate degree in liberal arts. She then got her bachelor’s degree in psychology, and her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, both from California State University, San Bernardino.

“She’s such an inspiration, not only to the able-bodied people, she demonstrates to all the people with disabilities — whether they were born with them or acquired them — so much hope,” said Eileen Sullivan, friend and co-worker. “She’s a girlie girl,” said Sullivan.

Pierce has lived in the Victor Valley since 1978. She owns her own home in Hesperia. She can remember when Bear Valley Road was two lanes and actually used to get from one place to another in under an hour. She is unable to drive, because her arms are too weak to turn a steering wheel. That didn’t stop her from going to a special training center and trying. “I’ll try anything,” she said.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

If you follow entertainment news, you’ve probably heard by now that Carol Burnett is suing FOX Network and the makers of “Family Guy” for $2 million. The suit stems from a 2005 episode of the cartoon sitcom that lampooned the actress and comedienne. More details are available from this article on CNN.com.

Fight SMA has ties with the show “Family Guy” reaching back to the show’s generous donation to our annual spinal muscular atrophy fundraiser last October. The makers of the TV show actually donated an appearance on the program! They illustrated the highest auction bidder into the show, making them a character in one episode. The winning bid for the once in a lifetime experience was a record $12,500. We remain thankful to FOX and Family Guy for the donation to our fight against SMA.

We are also familiar with Ms. Burnett’s involvement in a number of extremely worthy charitable causes, including her funding of multiple scholarship funds at universities across the country.

Without commenting on the merits of the lawsuit, we hope the two parties can come to an agreement to settle their dispute.