The Breeze Peer Support groups bring together people who are going through or have gone through experiencing SCI. Our support groups provide opportunities for our members to share personal experiences and feelings, coping strategies, or firsthand information about diseases or treatments. The groups also get together to do fun activities and outings as well.
Some groups are still meeting virtually because of COVID. We ask you to contact your group leader to find out details about your groups meeting.
You do not have to only join the group in your area. Please feel free to join as many groups as you want.
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Carolina Breeze Group - Led by Brian Denny (virtual only)
Brian currently serves as the association's Outreach Coordinator and has been on staff for 4 years. He sustained a C3-4 injury in 2010 from a work accident. His favorite things to do are hanging with his family (and Tanner the dog), helping friends with projects, fishing, hunting, and being outdoors. This group is for anyone who wants to join, whether you are in one of the other groups, or not.
brian [at] scspinalcord.org
803-252-2198 ext 1001
Group meets every Wednesday @ 1:30 PM EST
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87590960367?pwd=ZktDdnVaYnZYSTExOGNvWERMNDBsdz09
Low Country Group - Led by Barbara Delia (in person)
Barbara sustained a T-10/11 SCI and three traumatic brain injuries, on Sept. 17th, 2007. Since her injury, meeting challenges and learning different ways to accomplish everyday tasks has kept her busy physically and mentally. Being a Peer Group Leader for Low Country Breeze is very rewarding. She enjoys assisting others and providing resources to help meet their needs. Comforting new and long time members with knowledge and experience from our group is very rewarding. Going to fun events, providing education, sharing meals, and developing friendships is what makes our group special.
deliabarbara68 [at] yahoo.com
843-557-4826
Group meets the second Tuesday of the month @ 6:00 PM EST
Meeting place: Mobilityworks 932 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407
Contact Barb for more information
Spartanburg Group - Led by Angela Rodriguez and Brian Denny (virtual)
This group is currently looking for a new leader. If you're interested, please let us know.
Group meets the third Tuesday of the month @ 6:00 PM EST
Brian for more information @ brian [at] scspinalcord.org
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87429717494?pwd=OFp1aWE1dUtOcElkY09lWDBzNkViUT09
Florence Group - Led by Shane Scurry (virtual)
Shane has a C6 injury and lives in Bishopville. He's a Graduate of the University of South Carolina with a major in Biology and Chemistry. He enjoys spending time with his family and Fiancée, grilling, cutting grass and watching College football. Shane absolutely loves his group. Members say all the time, they identify more like a family than a group. Everyone displays respect towards each other and offers assistance with meetings and social events. He feels truly blessed to have such a close friendship with each of his members.
scurrys803 [at] gmail.com
803-459-4171
Group meets the last Thursday of the month @ 4:00 PM EST
Contact Shane for more information
Midlands Group - Led by Sherwood Toatley (in person)
Forty years ago, at the age of 11, Sherwood had a C1/C2 incomplete spinal cord injury in a freak bicycle accident. He refused to allow his high-level spinal cord injury get in the way of anything he wanted to accomplish. He started out in the workforce as a Receptionist at a local rehabilitation hospital which prepared him for his 30-plus year career as a 911 Dispatcher. He's also worked a number of years as a Spinal Cord Injury Peer Navigator for the Medical University of South Carolina while contributing to several research grants. Career opportunities have supported his love of travel, which has taken him as far as Paris and London. Sherwood has been volunteering with the South Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association since 2011 and has served on the Board of Directors. Since medically retiring, he continues to serve the SCI community and those who have given so much of themselves towards his recovery. He prides himself in saying "my condition is not my conclusion”.
sl.toatley [at] gmail.com
803-238-2574
Group meets the last Tuesday of the month @ 6:00PM EST
Meeting location: Encompass Health Rehab 2935 Colonial Dr. Columbia, SC 29203
Contact Sherwood for more information
Coastal (Myrtle Beach) Group - Led by Veronica Tario (virtual)
Veronica is a Myrtle Beach native who enjoys surfing, horseback riding, painting, and being out in nature. For someone who takes pleasure in being active, she wanted to create a group in which she could help show individuals with disabilities that there are plenty of ways to not only to push the boundaries of your “limitations" but to step outside of your comfort zone and live life to its fullest. After almost a decade of leading this group she has watched her members flourish, and in doing so facilitated in her growth as well. That reason alone is why she has continued this. So, come join them and reap the benefits as so many others have!
veronicatario [at] gmail.com
315-440-4471
Group meets the first Thursday of the month @ 6:00PM EST
Contact Veronica for more information
Rock Hill/South Charlotte Group - Hannah Martin and Darci Pernoud (in-person)
In 2007, at the age of 18, Hannah was in a car accident that resulted in a C-4 spinal cord injury, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down. Knowing that she could not give up after her accident, she pursued her undergraduate degree at University of North Carolina at Charlotte and then went on and received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University. She is passionate about helping others with similar injuries. Her love was and still is dance. Although she cannot physically dance anymore, she continues to teach through verbal instruction everyday. Hannah is very active and does not let anything get in her way!
Darci has a passion for helping others and this drove her to a Doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy in 2005. Over 10 years of learning and training those with spinal cord injuries and neurological injuries at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta helped her to see how much their support groups and peer support group fostered community and success after life changing injuries. She hopes to serve her local SCI community by hosting peer support groups in South Charlotte and sharing resources, education and stories she’s learned from past clients, friends, and other disability community members.
darci [at] btirehab.com
980-272-7105
Meeting location is BTI rehab 4801 Chastain Ave suite 194, Charlotte, NC 28217
Group meets the third Thursday of the month @ 12:00 PM EST
Contact Darci for more information
Greenville Group - Led by Ashley Wilder and Kaylan Lance (IN PERSON)
Group meets the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM EST
Meeting place: Prisma Health Life Center 857 W Faris Rd, Greenville, SC 29605
Contact Ashley at Ashley.Wilder [at] prismahealth.org for more information
No Breeze group in your area?
If you or anyone you know is interested in starting one, please call us at (803) 252-2198 or brian [at] scspinalcord.org.
Our staff will provide the assistance needed to get a group going in your local community.
If you are interested in being a Breeze Peer Support Group Leader, click on the position description for more information.