At just six years old, Cecelia Fred was accidentally shot in the spinal cord. She has been paraplegic ever since. As a child, she endured multiple operations to straighten her spine. She spent hours and hours in physical therapy to strengthen her upper body and prepare for life in a wheelchair. As an adult, Cecelia became an advocate for individuals with disabilities, especially those with spinal injuries. She tenaciously sought out influential people in the Navajo tribe, the New Mexico state … [Read more...] about Spotlight on ThinkFirst Navajo’s VIP Cecelia Fred
Helping Navajo Youth Say “YES” to Healthy Living
For more than 20 years, Tom Riggenbach of NavajoYES (Youth Empowerment Services) has been leading Navajo youth and families on a unique adventure that incorporates outdoor activities, education and community service. This annual, multi-week adventure -- the Tour de Rez -- covers approximately 1,200 miles of Navajo Country (Diné Bikéyah) and welcomes about 200 participants each summer. Most students join the Tour for a weeklong journey that includes mountain biking, backpacking and rafting, … [Read more...] about Helping Navajo Youth Say “YES” to Healthy Living
Eve’s Fund Receives $5,000 Grant from Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Priti Mehta (L), of the Reeve Foundation presents Quality of Life Grant to ThinkFirst Navajo VIP speakers, Doris Dennison (R) and Cecelia Fred (R) FARMINGTON, N.M. – February 24, 2012 – Eve’s Fund for Native American Health Initiatives is proud to announce that it has received a $5,000 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The award was one of 76 grants awarded by the Reeve Foundation to nonprofit organizations nationwide that aid in providing more … [Read more...] about Eve’s Fund Receives $5,000 Grant from Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Running for Eve’s Fund Campaign Launched
Barbara Crowell Roy Dear Friends of Eve's Fund, Yes, that's me--Eve's mom--Barbara Crowell Roy. This summer, I did something I never thought possible...I got off the couch and started running. I did three 5Ks and even came in first in one of them. (Luckily, there weren’t too many participants in my age group!) Those of you who know me well know that physical exercise isn't something I've ever really loved. Eve was an athlete and at least weekly she would bug me about the need to get fit. I … [Read more...] about Running for Eve’s Fund Campaign Launched
A Three-Day Journey of Self-Discovery
By Jeannette Rivera and Echohawk Lefthand Living in the Four Corners region of the southwest United States, we are surrounded by the vast and beautiful scenery of mesa bluffs and multicolor sunsets. Over time, however, we often become so accustomed to these nearby landscapes that we no longer “see” them. But as a group of local Navajo youth recently learned, there is a great way to rediscover the astonishing beauty of this high desert area: on a bike. On June … [Read more...] about A Three-Day Journey of Self-Discovery
