Vince Papale INVINCIBLE AWARD To Honor Burlington County Man Paralyzed By Accident

Burlington County’s Anthony Leale, paralyzed in a motorcycle accident, to be first recipient of the Vince Papale Invincible Award, presented by Vince Papale and A Step Toward Hope. A Step Toward Hope is the South Jersey fundraising endeavor of the Christopher Reeve Foundation, sponsored by Miles Technologies of Moorestown, New Jersey.

A Step Toward Hope 2006 – the second annual South Jersey fundraising gala for the Christopher Reeve Foundation, conceptualized and hosted by Miles Technologies of Moorestown, is set for Friday, October 20, 2006 at The Enterprise Center at Burlington County College, Mount Laurel, New Jersey. The event will feature the presentation of the first annual Vince Papale INVINCIBLE AWARD, honoring a South Jerseyan living with paralysis, demonstrating resilience, amazing spirit, determination and fortitude – traits demonstrated by South Jersey’s very own Vince Papale and illustrated in the major motion picture INVINCIBLE, based on Papale’s experiences as the oldest Philadelphia Eagles rookie ever.

Papale, an Honorary Chairman of A Step Toward Hope 2006 and a resident of South Jersey, will present the Vince Papale Award to the award’s first recipient, to be announced at the event. INVINCIBLE, the inspiring movie based on Papale’s life story, opened nationwide in movie theaters August 25. This year, the first annual Vince Papale INVINCIBLE AWARD will recognize Burlington County resident Anthony Leale.

A Step Toward Hope 2006 is an outstanding way to pay tribute to Christopher Reeve's legacy and support his efforts to find a cure for paralysis. Miles Technologies is proud to be the organizer of this major fundraising event - which will feature special guest Joe Piscopo, Lynn Doyle of CN8’s It’s Your Call with Lynn Doyle, Vince Papale – inspiration for the Disney movie Invincible – plus special awards presentations by Miles Technologies and the Christopher Reeve Foundation, as well as Philadelphia and New Jersey celebrities and more than $100,000 in auction items.

Miles Technologies, a leading business technologies and computer consulting firm, conceptualized and hosted A Step Toward Hope in June 2005. The first event, which drew more than 300 attendees to The Enterprise Center at BCC for an evening of fine dining, entertainment and more than $100,000 worth of luxury and diverse auction items, raised funds for the Christopher Reeve Foundation as it received strong attention from the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and CN8 The Comcast Network.

Christopher Reeve, who became famous playing Superman in the movies, became paralyzed in a May 1995 horse riding accident. Prior to his death in October 2004, Reeve lobbied for stem-cell research and other ways to help aid those with spinal-cord injuries. Reeve’s wife, Dana Reeve, received global recognition and affection for her dedication to Reeve and her unwavering support for the Christopher Reeve Foundation’s mission and goals. Dana Reeve, the keynote speaker of A Step Toward Hope in June 2005, died of lung cancer six months after the event.

For tickets to the event, or corporate sponsorship information, visit A Step Toward Hope 2006 at http://www.milestechnologies.com/crf or call (800) 496-8001.

To donate an item for auction at A Step Toward Hope 2006 or to find out ways to get involved with A Step Toward Hope 2006, contact Marie Alonso at Miles Technologies at (800) 496-8001.