This October will mark the 10-year anniversary of Eric LeGrand’s spinal cord injury. A 2010 accident that left the former Rutgers football standout paralyzed, but has since made him a household name and an inspiration to millions.

LeGrand views the upcoming date as a celebration, which should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with his story. Over the past 10 years, LeGrand has used his platform and his positive outlook on life to spread encouragement across the country. 

To help commemorate the anniversary of his injury, LeGrand has partnered with Rutgers Athletics and Dyehard Fan Supply to produce a new ‘Believe 52 – 10 Years of Believing’ t-shirt through his Shop Fifty Two clothing line. The shirts are available for pre-sale beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 2 with more pieces of Shop Fifty Two merchandise collection available in the near future.

“The shirt celebrates 10 years of believing,” LeGrand said. “Rather than recognizing it as a tragedy that happened 10 years ago, we’re going to show it as 10 years of believing, 10 years of fighting paralysis, 10 years of pushing forward and 10 years of continuing to show love to the university I graduated from and played for. It also allows our fans to come together to rally around something.”

A portion of each t-shirt purchase goes towards the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which is dedicated to curing spinal cord injuries by advancing innovative research and improving quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis. 

LeGrand has accomplished plenty since that day at MetLife Stadium changed his life 10 years ago, as he has become an accomplished public speaker and an ambassador to those with life-changing injuries. Along with his infectious personality, LeGrand has also used apparel to spread his message.

LeGrand has worked with several companies over the years to sell clothing emblazoned with his signature No. 52, but he always wanted to take the next step and create his own brand. Many encouraged him to branch out, but his biggest push may have come from a Big Ten Conference rival.

Devon Still – a standout defensive lineman who played at Penn State from 2008-11 – had LeGrand on his podcast last summer to discuss a number of topics. Still chartered the Still Strong Foundation with his daughter, Leah, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma in June 2014. The organization provides grants to families affected by childhood cancers, allowing them to spend less time worrying about non-medical bills during their fight.

So when Devon Still told LeGrand he should really think about creating a brand that represents himself and his story, it forced LeGrand to think long and hard about what his true purpose was. After discussing some ideas with his circle of friends, LeGrand launched his first self-produced t-shirt with the slogan ‘Roll Model’ on it.

“It was something I always wanted to do, but just didn’t take the initiative on,” LeGrand said. I’ve always partnered up with people to offer up clothing for a certain amount of time, but nothing that really represented me.”

For LeGrand, the demand for his initial t-shirt was humbling. Thousands were purchased when they were released last August, with celebrities such as Bryan Cranston, Todd Fraizer, Rachel Nichols and Michael Strahan wearing the shirt on social media posts in support of LeGrand.

LeGrand credits the clothing line’s initial success to the positivity he surrounds himself with every single day. 

“People ask me all the time ‘Eric, how do you keep that smile on your face?’ and I just tell them what you see is what you get with me. This is me. I’m a genuinely happy person and I’ve always been like this. After my injury, I wanted to make sure that never changed. 

“When you start to throw around those positive vibes and a good attitude, people want to be around you. As my story continues, more and more people want to be there to support me.”

The support for LeGrand only continues to grow. Though the COVID-19 pandemic forced LeGrand’s annual A Walk to Believe 5K – usually held in the first week of June outside at SHI Stadium – to go virtual, the race managed to attract record-setting participation. Runners and walkers from all 50 states raised more than $182,000, with proceeds benefiting both Team LeGrand and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. 

“[The Rutgers community] is my family,” LeGrand said. “There are some tremendous people here. I’ve met some great people before my injury and after. Everyone has truly embraced me and my story and everything I’m about. Whatever I want to do, they always have my back and we figure out a way to do it. We go out there and execute, and that’s what family is all about.”

LeGrand will continue to do everything he can to spread his message, and his latest t-shirt idea is another attempt to bring people together during a time when families need each other the most.

 “It’s just something positive to look at,” LeGrand said. “You see so much negativity on social media and on the news, so when you see this, you think to yourself ‘wow, now this is something I can get behind’. I want this shirt to represent how to never give up. I’m still fighting over here, and I need everyone else to keep fighting with me.”

The celebration will continue for LeGrand this year when he achieves another career milestone on the 10-year anniversary of his injury. The heartbeat and pulse of a resurgent Rutgers football program, he will take his place among the greats with his induction into the Rutgers Hall of Fame Class of 2020.