Stephen Edelson

@steveedelsonAPP

It’s hard to imagine Eric LeGrand being more inspiring than he already is.

But it’s about to happen, beginning with the former Rutgers football player’s appearance on the "Fox NFL Sunday" pregame show this weekend.

Because it marks the national launch of the latest emotionally charged project for LeGrand, who has emerged as a tireless advocate for those with disabilities since a spinal cord injury in a 2010 game left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Teaming with Manasquan native Greg Hannah and his partners at "Mission Possible," LeGrand serves as the host on a series of short feature stories detailing the experiences of others with disabilities on amazing journey’s that parallel LeGrand’s.

It’s motivation and inspiration taken to another level.

``We all have our own journey, and talking to them just pushes you every day to not let you situation or disability hold you back,’’ LeGrand said.

The first time I met Hannah, the Assistant Director of Disability Services at Villanova, it was a humid, early summer evening in 2012 on the field behind Raritan High School.

Back then, "Mission Possible" was little more than a concept and a dream, as Hannah interviewed Mike Luciano, the former Raritan soccer star whose career was cut short by a spinal cord injury 11 years earlier.

And it was Luciano, while attending a Team LeGrand event a year later, who told LeGrand about what Hannah and his crew were doing. After talking to Hannah, LeGrand was all in. And now Luciano is one of six segments already shot, with FOX, which provided development funds, having picked the series up.

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``The concept hasn’t changed. The big thing was allowing Eric to use his platform to uncover other people’s stories,’’ Hannah said. ``Characters like Mike (Luciano) and others we’ve met along this journey have awesome stories. They’re actively living, pursuing great dreams but maybe don’t have the platform he does because of where the injury took place.

"A lot of things lined up for Eric that allowed him to become this person, and now as we tell our stories, Eric is host/reporter, meeting these people, going on an experience with them. And the fact that he is someone living in the face of adversity with a disability, telling other people’s story, is unique in itself.’’

In one episode, LeGrand connects with Jeremie Thomas, who plays for the Miami Heat Wheels in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, with the two heading out on a boat off the South Florida coast. They also spent time around the filming of an episode of the HBO series Ballers, with Dwayne ‘’The Rock’’ Johnson making an appearance in the segment.

That’s the formula. Compelling tales with a little star power thrown in for good measure, all in four slick minutes to be delivered across the Fox platform.

LeGrand spent time with Jamie Goldman Marseilles, who became the first double below-the-knee amputee to run the Boston Marathon in the spring, doing it to honor her friend, Celeste Corcoran, who lost both legs in the bombings there in 2013. They also spend time for the episode with the New England Patriots, where a number of LeGrand’s former teammates play.

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LeGrand took Hanover Park’s Gianna Brunini, who has cerebral palsy, to her prom last spring, with Michael Strahan getting involved with his collection of clothing at JC Penney outfitting LeGrand for the big night.

After interviewing Luciano back in 2012, the "Mission Possible" crew took him surfing in Hawaii, getting him back in the water for the first time since his accident. To complete production on that episode, LeGrand and Luciano spent time with the New York City Football Club at Yankee Stadium.

``Our whole team has an understanding of who we are working with,’’ Hannah said. ``We don’t walk in their shoes but we understand the path they are walking because we’re involved with it in different ways. What’s nice about it is we try to bring a team atmosphere, a family atmosphere, a competitive atmosphere and provide a showcase the abilities of people.

``This concept is about people’s abilities. Of course people will be inspired and motivated and that’s natural. But in the same respect, we’re proud to showcase people’s abilities. This is who we are surrounded by. This is what we can learn in the face of tragedies. In some of these stories there’s been triumph. In the face of adversity there have been great moments of achievement. Eric is a great face for that and the people that we’re meeting are teaching Eric a whole different set of skills.’’

It’s also the latest avenue for LeGrand to continue his crusade, using his charismatic personality and incredible story to make others believe anything is possible.

``When I first met Greg and the crew came to my house, I saw what they were doing, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it,’’ LeGrand said. ``It’s different and something that hasn’t been done yet, and being able to tell the stories of these people doing amazing things, how could I turn something like this down.

``In telling other people’s stories, like someone with cerebral palsy or a double amputee, or someone from the Boston Marathon bombings, and Mikey, another with a spinal cord injury, it’s great to hear other people’s stories, how they have persevered and lived their lives and continued to live their lives.’’

And who better to tell those stories than Eric LeGrand.

Stephen Edelson is an Asbury Park Press columnist: sedelson@gannettnj.com



