Dear Marilyn,

We are heading into the dog days of summer (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) and looking forward to my favorite time of year, autumn. It's the season to celebrate harvest and enjoy the fruits of our labor from the preceding months. While this image most commonly applies to our farming and gardening work, it's also an apt description of our preparations for the Working 2 Walk Symposium. Over these last several months our team has been laying the groundwork for our 11th annual conference. Thanks in particular to terrific support from sponsors and advocates in the Minneapolis area, this year's symposium promises to be an energetic and productive event. Watch what scientists and advocates have to say about their experiences at Working 2 Walk.

We've filled all of the slots on our agenda, and are thrilled to feature speakers and panelists with a wide variety of expertise in all areas related to recovery from spinal cord injury. There will be numerous opportunities for interaction amongst the various stakeholders, from Q & A sessions to table discussions to social receptions. The Working 2 Walk Symposium is driven by the patient community, and offers a unique and powerful environment for open and honest communication, Our goal is to accelerate progress toward viable, affordable treatments that will restore healthy bodies to those living with paralysis. If you want to be part of this movement, then you'll want to join us in Minneapolis.

Registration is Open!. We've opened up the W2W Registration portal, and Early Bird rates are in effect through September 16. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we are once again able to keep fees low and offer significant discounts to students (50%), persons with SCI (50%), and personal assistants (100%). Breakfast and lunch on both days and the Friday evening Networking Reception are included with your registration. In partnership with our Title Sponsor, Allina Health Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, we are happy to offer Continuing Education Units (CEU's) at this year's conference. More information is available on our registration page.

Sponsor support has provided funding for Travel Grants to assist with the expenses for persons with spinal cord injury to attend the conference. Funds are limited, and we encourage you to apply early for a grant; eligible expenses include hotel, airfare or gas, and ground transportation. The first group of applicants will be notified of their awards by September 15. Apply for a Travel Grant.

Hotel Reservations can now be booked at our conference venue, the Radisson Blu Mall of America. The hotel is close to the Minneapolis-St Paul airport and offers a free shuttle. Accessible transportation is available via Metro Transit Light Rail. We have secured a special group rate of $149/night; please follow the instructions on our web page to get the proper accommodations. Note that our group rate will be available until September 26, 2016, or until the block sells out, whichever comes first. Historically our room block has sold out, and you are advised to book early.

Speakers: Many thanks to U2FP staffers Donna Sullivan, Chris Powell, and Matthew Rodreick, who worked long hours to craft our agenda and assemble an outstanding group of speakers. We have representatives from the research, translation, clinical, funding, and advocacy sectors, and look forward to a lively exchange of knowledge, strategies, and challenges across stakeholder groups.

Sponsors: There is still time to join the Working 2 Walk team as a conference supporter. Our publicity efforts, web traffic, and social media conversations will increase steadily in the next couple of months; be part of the buzz as an official W2W Sponsor. Click here for information on all of our Supporter packages.

Questions about Working 2 Walk should be directed to Marilyn Smith, marilynsmith@u2fp.org.

Amazon Smile: I want to take a moment to thank those of you who support U2FP by using Amazon Smile. Unfortunately Amazon does not provide us with records of our supporters so that we might thank you individually. Please know that we do receive regular payments and are very appreciative of your support.