'Rally For Rebecca' 5K Planned For Paralyzed Plainview College Student

PLAINVIEW, NY — This Saturday, a 5K "Walk, Run, Roll" race in honor of Plainview's Rebecca Koltun will raise money for a catastrophic injury fundraising organization. Koltun suffered a spinal cord injury while skiing at age 21 in March 2021. The Rally for Rebecca 5K Walk, Run & RollPlus Fun Run will take place at 8:30 a.m. at Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School in Plainview.

The inaugural event will support Help Hope Live, a nonprofit that helps those dealing with life-changing medical bills raise needed funds. The Koltun family's expenses since the injury are estimated at over $1 million so far, with another $250,000 to $300,000 per year for medical care every year, according to the event page.

"Now paralyzed from the neck down, Rebecca can see, hear, speak, and understand, but is unable to move her arms or legs. The medical name for her condition is quadriplegia.The cost of Rebecca’s medical care is staggering. She requires round-the clock care from specially trained nursing staff, as well as regular physical, occupational, and respiratory therapies. The equipment she needs just to get through the day includes a custom wheelchair, adapted van, electronic hospital bed and Hoyer lift, and a host of medical supplies – all of which require regular maintenance and replenishment," the race page explains.

According to the Help Hope Live funraising page for Koltun, at least 300 people have registered for Saturdya's race. Koltun herself will attend in her power chair.

"We continue to be amazed and humbled by the amount of support that has been provided to Rebecca and our family," organizers wrote.