Travis Roy Shares His Personal Story of Triumph Over Tragedy with Funeral Professionals

BATESVILLE, IN., August 19, 2019 – As caretakers to families who have experienced tragedy, funeral directors have a unique perspective on loss. They understand that grief and healing are a journey that take their own course and that with time, families will find a new “normal.”

Travis Roy experienced tragedy in a different way, when a freak accident 11 seconds into his first collegiate hockey game left him paralyzed from the neck down. Although the accident signaled the death of a dream he had spent his whole life practicing and preparing for, fierce determination and courage helped Roy find a new normal, and a purposeful, fulfilling and productive life.

Inspired by his story, Greg Rollings, president and CEO of Rollings Funeral Service, invited Roy to speak to his management team at their annual strategy planning event in Batesville. Rollings has funeral homes in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, and Pennsylvania. They were joined by Batesville associates.

Roy spoke about his life and goals before the accident, the challenges he and his family faced during recovery and the incredible power of positive thinking. In his own words, “Sometimes we choose our challenges and dreams, and if we’re lucky, we can reach them. But there are other times in life when the challenges choose us, and it’s what we do in the face of challenges that defines who we are.”

In Roy’s case, that included graduating from Boston University and dedicating himself to helping other spinal cord injury survivors through his namesake foundation.

The Travis Roy Foundation

The Travis Roy Foundation was established in 1997 as a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of spinal cord injury survivors and to fund research into a cure. Half of the money raised by the Foundation goes toward Quality of Life grants that have been used to modify vans and purchase wheelchairs, computers, ramps, shower chairs, and other adaptive equipment to help paraplegics and quadriplegics live their lives. For more information, visit www.travisroyfoundation.org.