After losing the use of her arms and legs more than two years ago, Elizabeth Forst knew she needed to do something to keep range of motion and circulation in her body because of her background in physical therapy.
About a year ago, she was connected with the Chanda Plan Foundation, a nonprofit that seeks to improve the quality of life for the physically disabled through integrative therapies.
“Being on the other side of the line, itap now crucial for my quality of life. It keeps me healthy, itap good for my circulation and well-being,” Forst said. “I see huge improvements with pain reductions.”
The Chanda Plan was founded by Chanda Hinton Leichtle in 2005 after Leichtle, a quadriplegic since age 9, found relief through massage therapy and acupuncture. She had nearly died at age 21 when she was reliant solely on medication for pain and was placed in hospice care before recovering.
“The biggest red flag is there was no discussion about how life would be different. Would I do the same things or redefine how I approached my health?” Leichtle said.
Ten years later, Leichtle has built a strong organization and even lobbied the state to include these therapies in Medicaid coverage for people with spinal cord injuries. Now, Leichtle is preparing to move the foundation into a new building and expand services to help more people who are physically disabled.
The foundation is in the midst of fundraising for a new facility about eight times the size of the current location, 8725 W. 14th Ave., in Lakewood. The new space a few blocks away — 1630 Carr St. — should be ready in April, but some fundraising is needed.
Currently, there are two therapy rooms and the services alternate between massage therapy and acupuncture, but the new space will include more kinds of care, including primary care. This will allow more of a one-stop shop for the physically disabled.
“The new facility will allow more services. Every day will be multidisciplinary,” Leichtle said.
There is about $400,000 that still needs to be raised, but the $4 million project is mostly funded thanks to donations and grants from organizations such as the Colorado Health Foundation, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and the Boettcher Foundation.
The Boettcher Foundation recently awarded $75,000 to the Chanda Plan as part of its social services grantees.
“These are projects I get so excited about. They’ll not only be better able to serve this population, but preliminary data shows they will be able to do it in a cost-effective way,” said Julie Lerudis, Boettcher Foundation grants program director.
Lerudis also praised Leichtle for all the work she has done in the past decade.
“She’s just the real deal,” she said. “She’s one of those people that people gravitate to.”
Excitement around the foundation is high regarding the move with the hope that it will bring in more than 200 unique clients in the first six months. The foundation will also look for new practitioners to provide more services in the 6,000 square-foot facility.
The benefits of the therapies, Leichtle says, are vast, but sometimes still not widely accepted. She will continue to work to make it more available to more people. Patients don’t pay for services at the foundation.
Massage therapy can help disabled patients with range of motion, reduce risk of blood clots and improve blood flow. Acupuncture can help stimulate the nervous system and help with recovery, according to practitioner Stephen Corsale, who has worked with the foundation for three years.
“It can be helpful on a multitude of levels based on the need of the person,” he said. “Our goal is to create an environment where we can maximize that recovery and benefit.”
Leichtle is focusing on getting the last $400,000 to finish the facility in April.
“We need one major person to say they love disability and want to help and here’s a check for $400,000,” she said.
For more information on the foundation, visit .