"Aaron is, his story is one that's filled with strength, one that's filled with love from his family and one that's inspiring to say the least."
Jarrett Juran is speaking of his longtime friend, Aaron Wood. While on vacation in Wildwood, New Jersey in August 2009, Wood hit his head after jumping from a sandbar and broke his neck.
"It kind of shocked the entire town and the whole community so everybody was kind of affected by it," said Juran.
He is now paralyzed from the chest down.
"I'm able to move my shoulders and obviously my head but other than that, that's pretty much it," said Aaron Wood.
Now five years since the accident, Wood is in desperate need of standup wheelchair.
I have trouble fitting under tables when we go out to eat. I'm prone to getting clots and osteoporosis a lot quicker cause I don't bear any weight," he added.
But the wheelchair costs nearly $60,000. So Juran started the Judy's Elves Foundation and will hold a gala on December 20th, in hopes of raising the money for his friend. But his efforts didn't end there. Juran directed and produced a documentary called If you don't try, you fail.
"Which is a tattoo that Aaron has on his arm and I kind of based the whole documentary on that quote because that's kind of Aaron's, that's kind of his attitude towards life. He just keeps going, he keeps a positive mindset," Juran said.
And even though Wood will likely never walk again, he says this entire experience has changed him for the better.
"I think it's made me more patient, which my family would disagree with me saying that but compared to what I used to be, it's definitely allowed me to slow down and enjoy things a little more."
If you'd like to learn more about the gala or how you can donate, click on the following link: http://www.judyselvesfoundation.com/ or to read Wood's blog, click here: http://www.aaronwood.us/