We're all going to face some sort of
adversity in our life.
How you handle it will ultimately define you.
Hi my name is Eric LeGrand.
I'm a former Rutgers football player
who was paralyzed 10 years ago making the tackle
at MetLife Stadium here in New Jersey.
I went to make a tackle in the fourth quarter
of a game, and I fractured my C3 C4 vertebrae
and became paralyzed from the neck down.
As I laid there on the field after that injury,
I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe,
and my head coach Greg Schiano
looked down at me and he tells me I have to pray.
And honestly, I thought I was going to die
on that football field, and I did close my eyes.
The first few days of the injury were
a complete blur to me.
The outpouring of support was honestly amazing.
It was humbling,
and truly just spectacular to see how many people
were going out of their way for me,
writing me letters, wishing me well.
And it motivated me because I've always been
the type of person if someone is counting on me,
or relying on me,
it's my responsibility to get the job done.
The rehab has been a grueling process.
10 years into my injury,
still working hard trying to just keep my body healthy.
It's just so much that goes into rehab
and secondary complications that come
with spinal cord injuries
that people have no idea about.
So I try to keep myself healthy.
I've always been a positive guy,
that happy-go-lucky, life of the party,
making everybody smile,
and I said to myself when I got injured,
I'm only 20 years old.
God willing I live for many many more years.
I don't wanna be upset.
I don't wanna have an attitude or be negative.
I'm still going to live my life to the fullest,
with the best of my abilities.
And you gain a newfound appreciation on life
when things are taken away from you.
You can't do the things you were able to do before,
so that's why I'm just so appreciative
and thankful for the things that I can do.
And that's why I stay so positive and optimistic.
Team LeGrand is a fundraising branch
of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
to help find a cure for paralysis.
I formed Team LeGrand of the
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
to continue Christopher Reeve's goal,
and that's a world with empty wheelchairs.
And one day we're going to get there.
I truly believe that.
And he's the one who paved the pathway
for all of us to come through,
and we're gonna get to the end zone
and find a cure for paralysis.
The LeGrand Coffee House was started
because of the time that we're going through,
and when people look at me, they want to come together.
They want to be a part of something
bigger than themselves.
Help. Motivate. What to people need
every single morning, in the afternoon?
85% of the world drinks coffee.
So now I found a way to put my little spin on it
and bring unity to the community
with a daily cup of belief.
Our brick and mortar of LeGrand Coffee House will be opening
in my hometown of Woodbridge, New Jersey
in September of this year.
People can get our coffee right now
at Legrandcoffeehouse.com and be a part of the movement,
and be able to enjoy their daily cup of belief
each and everyday.
We're all going to face some sort of adversity
in our life whether we're five years old
or 65 years old.
How you handle it will ultimately define you.
And if you need a helping hand,
reach out for it.
We're all gonna struggle,
but no matter what struggles you're going through,
remember how blessed you truly are,
and the things that you do have in your life
because there's so many people out there
that are praying for exactly what you have.
I love it so much, I love it so much.
I love this too, our friends at Almond Breeze,
they make, I love almond milk.
Oh yeah. Delicious.
They make an almond milk coffee creamer,
I'm sure many of your guests prefer
almond milk these days.
They want to help with Team LeGrand's fundraising efforts.
They're giving you $5,000
(indistinct)
How great is that? Wow.
Talk about a surprise right there.
That is absolutely amazing.
I can't thank you guys enough for that.
Wow.
Yeah you're gonna have to try some
almond milk in your coffee this afternoon.
That's right.
Oh believe me, it will be in there
for the rest of time now.
(laughter)