Christopher Reeve to Be Honored as Hero of Heroes

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation announced that Christopher Reeve will receive the first Heroes' Hero Award from CNN for his devotion to helping others with paralysis. The chairman of the Board of the Reeve Foundation, Peter D. Kiernan, Reeve's two eldest children, Matthew and Alexandra, will accept the award during CNN's "Heroes: All-Star Tribute" December 6th.

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (CDRF) is a national non-profit organization funding research on paralysis and spinal cord injuries. The CDRF also works to improve the lives of those people affected. The influential group was formed after Reeve began working with the American Paralysis Association when a horse-riding accident left him paralyzed in 1995. He became synonymous with the condition and cause, which led to the renaming of the organization to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

"When Christopher Reeve moved his fingers five years after he was told they would never move again, he was really pointing the way for all of us to follow," said Peter D. Kiernan, the foundation's chairman. "On Christopher's behalf, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation accepts the wonderful Heroes' Hero honor from CNN with great thanks and an ironclad commitment to follow the path that Christopher identified."

CNN has spent the last year honoring ordinary heroes from all walks of life. The live special Thursday, December 6th, will honor those heroes and Reeve with performances by Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, and a duet between Norah Jones and Wyclef Jean. Anderson Cooper and Christiane Amanpour will host.

"My father's generosity in spirit was infinite." Alexandra Reeve also said. "He conveyed that spirit to all of us, through his passion for his work and how he chose to live his life. He never expected to become the poster-child for spinal cord injury, but when the challenge was placed before him... he embraced it. He did so because he knew that he could make a tremendous difference. He and Dana represented the millions of people living with paralysis, and they led a civil rights movement, advocating for their rights -- the civil rights of the disabled. They changed the face of paralysis forever, and inspired us to believe that anything is possible."

Matthew Reeve, Christopher Reeve's eldest son, added, "Through the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, we continue their journey. We thank CNN tremendously for honoring our father's legacy."

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Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, Christopher Reeve Honored as Heroes' Hero By CNN, PR Newswire