About Brooke

"One of the few guarantees in life is that it will never turn out the way we expect. But, rather than let the events in our lives define who we are, we can make the decision to define the possibilities in our lives."

Brooke Ellison has lived her life by that idea, and has worked to instill it in those she meets. Brooke grew up on Long Island, and for the first 11 years of her life, was involved in so many of the activities that characterize childhood. She studied dance and karate. She sang in the church choir and played the cello. She played little league baseball and soccer. But all of that changed on September 4th of 1990 when she was hit by a car while she was on her way home from school. The accident left her paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a ventilator. Despite her physical situation, Brooke was determined to continue with her life, and continue to make a difference. After spending nearly one year in the hospital, recovering from her injuries and adjusting to her new life, Brooke returned home and focused on her education.

When Brooke returned to school, she was welcomed by friends she had missed and found an environment that allowed her to thrive. In 2000, ten years after her accident, Brooke graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University. Brooke graduated with an A- average in cognitive neuroscience, a combined major of psychology and biology. She gave a commencement address for her Harvard graduation in June of 2000.

In January of 2002, Brooke and her mother, Jean Ellison, published a book entitled The Brooke Ellison Story, which documents their family's experiences from the day of Brooke's accident until Brooke's graduation from Harvard in 2000. Their book subsequently was made into a movie, directed by Christopher Reeve, which first aired on A&E on October 25, 2004. Brooke continued her education by graduating from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government with a Masters degree in Public Policy.

For the past decade, Brooke has worked as a public speaker, delivering the message of hope, motivation and strength in the face of obstacles.

In November of 2006, Brooke ran for New York State Senate, focusing her attention on the issues of health care, education and housing. Just as Brooke had overcome challenges in her life, she sought to help the state of New York overcome its challenges. Brooke based her campaign on restoring a sense of hope to politics, with the belief that government has an important and problem-solving role in our lives. Click here for more information about Brooke's state Senate campaign.

The details of Brooke's life have been widely covered in such publications as The New York Times, People Magazine, USA Today, Newsday, Biography Magazine and The International Herald Tribune, as well as such programs as Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show and Larry King Live. In each of these appearances, Brooke has expressed her desire to have an impact on the world, stating "wherever there is a condition of discouragement or inopportunity, that's where I hope to be."