Carson Pforsich is holding a fundraiser in Santa Rosa to help people with spinal cord injuries

“We made it our mission to help people with spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders with medical challenges,” he said.

Carson Dohemann, 32, of Novato, is one of two recipients of the inaugural award.

Dogemann, like Pforsich, suffered a spinal injury while swimming.

He is almost completely paralyzed from the chest down.

Pforsich and Dohemann both train at SCI-FIT in Petaluma. SCI-FIT targets clients dealing with spinal cord injuries, strokes and neurological disorders.

Dochemann’s training and work on physical therapy in SCI-FIT paid for by grants. Any money raised through Pforsich’s event will help him continue his therapy sessions after those grants run out, Dohemann said.

“This fundraiser will allow me to continue to do that,” he said.

And staying strong is crucial, he said.

“It’s very important because without the trainers at SCI-FIT, I wouldn’t be able to get out of my chair on my own,” he said. “In general, moving for my body, maintaining muscle strength. They quickly atrophy.”

Aside from the fundraising, Dohemann said he’s excited to see the event in its early stages.

“This is really their first step in the journey into this non-profit world. They’re raising money and helping people, and I think that’s really cool to see,” he said. “It’s the least of what I could have imagined, so to be at the forefront is kind of cool.”

Another beneficiary of the Nov. 3 event is Andre Abarca, 29, of Novato.

Abarca reportedly suffered a spinal injury in a motorcycle accident in 2023 his profile on the Pforsich website.

In the future, Pforsich and D’Ancona envision the event building momentum and attracting multiple nominations from the community each year.

“We want this to be a place where we are known well enough that family members or friends can nominate their loved ones as potential recipients in the future,” Pforsich said.

Pforsich knows something momentum and forward motion. He just wants to spread the message to the world.

“I’ve gotten a lot of help from Sonoma County and this community, but a lot of people aren’t as fortunate as I am,” Pforsich said. “I want to pay it forward.”

Staff columnist Kerry Benefield can be reached at 707-526-8671 or [email protected]. On Instagram @kerry.benefield.