Reeve’s death touches locals

Barbara Diamond

Christopher Reeve is mourned in Laguna Beach, just as his life was

celebrated here.

“We are all so sad about his death,” said Katy Moss, a member of

the Laguna Beach chapter of the Christopher Reeve Foundation.

Reeve’s valiant heart gave out Saturday, unable to combat the

infection caused by a pressure wound, which is like a bed sore,

common in paralyzed people. He was 52, a paraplegic since 1995.

He was an inspiration to the members of the American Paralysis

Foundation, the only chapter of the Christopher Reeve Foundation,

Moss said.

The chapter was founded in Laguna Beach in the 1980s by Jackie

O’Hara to raise funds for spinal cord research after her son was

paralyzed in the 1980s. The group merged with the Reeve’s foundation

in 1999.

“About two-thirds of the volunteer foundation members are Laguna

Beach residents,” foundation member Amy Penniger said.

The local group hosts an annual gala fundraiser, which Reeve

attended in 2002.

“We had been talking about getting him out here again for the 2005

fundraiser in May,” Moss said.

Proceeds from the gala fund grants and research to develop

effective treatment and a cure for paralysis caused by spinal cord

injury and other central nervous system disorders.

“Our little group has raised well over $1 million,” said Moss, who

like Penniger was brought into the group by O’Hara.

Reeve’s wife, Dana, was the guest of honor at the 2004 fundraiser,

held in May at the St. Regis Hotel in Laguna Niguel.

Her main focus is the quality of life grants awarded by the

foundation, which the gala helps fund.

The grants total nearly $1 million a year -- scientific grants are

even more -- and range from $5,000 to $25,000, which might be used

for to design a kitchen for an assisted living facility or to make a

playground accessible for challenged children.