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Dec 14, 2006 11:17 pm US/Central
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Paralyzed High School Football Players Offer Hope
by Rob Johnson
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Two former high school football players are not letting devastating injuries stop them from inspiring and helping others.
CBS 2's Rob Johnson reports on the paralyzed players and their message of hope.
It is a team no one aspires to be on -- active young men, now quadriplegics. Friday at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Rob Komosa and Rocky Clark, both paralyzed playing football several years ago, came to lift the spirits of 17-year-old Travis Hearn of Rock Island, who suffered a spinal cord injury playing football just this fall.
"It's very important you know to come and support Trav and show him that he's not alone," said Rocky Clark.
"He'll be alright, he'll be OK, I just wanted to come and give him some encouragement," said Rob Komosa.
They also came bearing gifts -- a $1,000 check, and a promise of $10,000 more to help with Travis' expensive care. The money coming from a foundation Rob and Rocky started to help athletes in their unenviable position.
They raised funds through the sales of a book of inspirational halftime speeches by some of the top coaches in the game.
"Paying it forward, man, support you and your family in any way possible," Clark said to Hearn.
"I feel pretty good about it because it shows me I have hope," Hearn said.
Also part of this team are the athletes' mothers. Clark's mom helped Hearn's mom navigate an uncertain, and emotionally and physically draining, future.
"You're gonna run into rough roads, but you know what, keep your head up. Keep your head up Travis, this is just a test," said Annette Clark, Rocky's mother.
"Great Moments in Football Halftime" is being sold at Bears games and on line at Komosa's and Clark's Websites.
If you'd like to purchase a copy of the book, you can go to
www.robkomosa.org or
www.rockyclark.org.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)