Teaming up to help others

For the third 12 months, Steelers gamers are main the Steelers Social Justice Grant program. Gamers are making donations to native organizations which might be having an affect on the group, and the Steelers are matching the donations. The Steelers kicked off the 2020 Steelers Social Justice Grant program in December, and it continues right now with JuJu Smith-Schuster making a distinction locally.

Ryan Shazier has been there.

He has skilled the ache, the struggling, the frustration, and finally the enjoyment and satisfaction of victory.

Now, he needs others to have the ability to do the identical. And he is aware of he cannot do it with out assist.

Shazier’s story is a well-documented one. He suffered a career-ending spinal wire damage in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4, 2017 and underwent spinal stabilization surgical procedure two days later.

He has been an inspiration since that day, taking a optimistic method to his restoration. He did not sit round feeling sorry for himself, as a substitute getting out and doing every part he may to struggle again.

Whereas many feared Shazier would not stroll once more, he by no means let these ideas preserve him down. He labored constantly to get the place he’s right now, being able to stroll once more and luxuriate in life, and his struggle, his drive, his ambition has by no means gone unnoticed.

He was honored a number of occasions for his braveness, together with successful the 2019 George Halas Award, named by the Professional Soccer Writers of America (PFWA). The Halas Award, named after the Corridor of Famer and Chicago Bears icon, is introduced to an NFL participant, coach or employees member who has overcome essentially the most adversity to succeed. Shazier, who formally introduced his retirement from taking part in this previous September, additionally received the Ed Block Braveness Award.

However, that is not sufficient for Shazier. He needs the identical feeling of victory for others that he has skilled, and that’s the reason he launched the Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation in November, to assist spinal wire damage sufferers. His battle together with his personal damage, and his superb restoration, impressed him to assist others.

“My basis is about folks coping with spinal wire points. I handled the problem myself. I perceive how a lot assist and care you want for these with spinal wire points,” mentioned Shazier. “Typically folks do not get the correct amount of care or assist or rehab they want. I began this to offer them extra assist, the caregivers extra assist and assist them get extra rehab. You at all times need to do some sort of rehab when injured. For spinal wire, often you solely get 30 periods of rehab. That is like making an attempt to show your child to stroll once more in 30 periods. That’s virtually not possible.

“We’re simply making an attempt to offer folks extra rehab, alternatives, give folks again a significant life-style. Everybody isn’t going to stroll once more however give them the chance to get again to some sort of independence. That’s what my basis is about, giving folks again independence, letting them do issues on their very own and simply give them the chance to have assist. A number of time with spinal wire points that’s the finish of the highway for them. I wished to offer them a chance and allow them to know they are not alone.”

And Shazier is not alone in wanting to assist. Via the Steelers Social Justice Grant program, a program which is led by the gamers in an effort to interact with varied factions, together with regulation enforcement, charitable organizations, army and extra to strengthen the group at massive, JuJu Smith-Schuster is lending a hand to Shazier’s efforts. He has donated $5,000 to the Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation, with the Steelers matching the donation for a complete of $10,000.

“I’m really grateful for this,” mentioned Shazier. “It means loads. It lets you understand the relationships you constructed whereas taking part in with guys, guys who’re from completely different backgrounds and completely different components of the world, actually imply one thing. You may have relationships that transcend soccer.

“This does not simply imply loads to imply personally, although. It means loads as a result of it is going to assist so many people who find themselves going by the identical factor I’ve gone by. JuJu has firsthand expertise seeing what I’ve gone by after we performed collectively. It is superb to have somebody like that, somebody who was a teammate not simply assist me, however assist others.

“It is nice to see the younger guys purchase in to the social justice program, for them to see how essential it’s to assist their group. To have the younger guys perceive it is as essential because the older guys do is large. They see how massive the struggle we try to assist out with is. It is good to see these guys assist out the identical manner the fellows who’ve helped out for some time have been doing.”

The assist from Smith-Schuster means the world to Shazier, as does the assist from the workforce. When Shazier retired, Normal Supervisor Kevin Colbert instructed him, “I would like you to know, you’ll be able to retire from the sport of soccer, however you might be by no means going to retire from being a Pittsburgh Steeler.” He meant that. The workforce has been in Shazier’s nook for a very long time and are exhibiting they at all times will likely be.

“Meaning loads,” mentioned Shazier. “Once I was taking part in it meant loads to me that the workforce matched the donations. Now for the foundations who’re benefiting, they’re getting much more assist, doubling what they’re getting and that may make an enormous distinction for foundations making an attempt to assist others and the social justice motion typically.

“Simply all the assist I’ve acquired from the workforce means a lot. From the second I received drafted by the Steelers, to after I began my basis, they’ve at all times had my again, have at all times been there for me, somebody I can lean on. It exhibits you the background of Pittsburgh. Everyone seems to be blue-collar, hard-working, we stick collectively and proceed to construct this group. It simply means loads to have them in my nook.”

And now, he needs to be within the nook for others. Shazier continues to work on fund-raising efforts for the muse to allow them to launch their applications and he can present the assist others gave him.

“Once I was going by this, I had super assist from the Steelers. I had assist from family and friends members, folks everywhere in the nation,” mentioned Shazier. “Once I was within the hospital, I noticed folks did not have the identical assist I had. It is my alternative to offer again the best way I used to be given to. It is my alternative to offer again to others and I’m excited.”