Eric LeGrand encourages young people with spinal cord injuries in Rutgers' 'True Grit' program

PISCATAWAY, New Jersey (WABC) -- One play changed Eric LeGrand's life forever. Now, the former Rutgers football player is helping teens facing the same life-changing diagnosis to see what's still possible.

At Rutgers' True Grit Spinal Cord Injury Program, LeGrand is encouraging young people to build confidence, embrace independence and realize that a spinal cord injury - doesn't have to define their future.

It has been a busy week for the more than two dozen high schoolers from across the country, learning to expect as much out of life as they did before a spinal cord injury changed their way of life. True Grit gives so much.

"Just learning how to take care of yourself, just the community being super supportive," said Corban Phillips of Indiana.

They spend the week on the Rutgers campus with lifelong independence being the goal.

"They get to see a path forward. They get to try new things," said Kassandra Boyd of Children's Specialized Hospital.

The program, which receives support from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is a close-knit collaboration with the University and RWJ Children's Specialized Hospital. They seek out teens like Luke Spinato of North Carolina, who two years ago injured his spine in a diving accident.

"It made a huge difference. Since my injury, I haven't been able to do much. It's definitely helped me do that," Spinato said.

The interactions this week were life-changing.

"It's really all about being in this community, this environment," said Rutgers Assistant Professor Keara McNair.

This is why Eric LeGrand answers the call each session to be a part of the solution - he is the inspiration and the example.

"You get these kids who get injured early in their life," said LeGrand.

The gathering happens once every year at Rutgers and means a lot to the teens involved. You can contribute to True Grit HERE.