NextStep Raleigh Events

We host events throughout the year. We use them to raise money, connect with each other in real life, build our community, and have fun.  Come join us!

Upcoming Events

This fall, we’ll gather once again for a truly meaningful event: the Stand Together Gala: 10-Year Tribute.

Why a second gala this year? Because 2025 marks 10 years since Michael Thor’s accident—a life-changing moment that ignited the vision for what would become NextStep Raleigh.

Since opening our doors in 2018, we’ve helped hundreds of clients living with paralysis take steps—both literal and symbolic—toward recovery, independence, and a fuller life through evidence-based, activity-based therapy.

After last year’s event was rescheduled due to Hurricane Helene, we’re back on track and ready to celebrate not just how far we’ve come, but how far we still plan to go.

Let’s continue to STAND TOGETHER for a future full of hope, progress, and possibilities.

We’re turning up the volume this fall at our annual Stand Together - A Party With a Purpose, hosted at Whiskey Kitchen! This community-centered event is a celebration of hope, progress, and perseverance—and all proceeds support our ongoing therapy and recovery efforts

Stay tuned for ticket info, sponsorship opportunities, and sneak peeks at this year’s lineup.

Past Events

This year’s golf tournament was an incredible success, thanks to YOU—our dedicated players, partners, sponsors, and volunteers. We welcomed 93 golfers to the stunning course at Prestonwood for a fun-filled day in support of paralysis recovery.

We kicked off the morning with bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and hot coffee—courtesy of Bruegger’s Bagels, McDonald’s – Haynie Family, and Starbucks.

On the course, thanks to Tito’s Vodka, Heaven Hill, OBX Distilling, Karen Coe Realty, Far Packaging, Triangle Shooting Academy, and Hendrick Auto, golfers were treated to unique activities and refreshments that kept the energy high. A special shout out to Drew Browder and his gaggle of friends, which comprised 3 of the day's teams and seemed to have a lot of fun during the Auction. 

Our live and silent auctions were packed with exciting donations from our generous community, including: Whiskey Kitchen, Payne’s Playhouse, The Thor Family, GP Catering NC, J. McLaughlin, Wendy Perry Designs, Raleigh Custom Burn, Maximillians, Pro’s Epicurean, Tribeca Tavern, Crosstown Pub, Albatross, The Exchange, Game On Escape Rooms, Caffe Luna, Brewery Bhavana, Parkside, Prestonwood Country Club, Hope Valley Country Club, and Lonnie Poole Golf Course. 

Sullivan Eastern Inc. sponsored our beverage carts, filled with donations from Biolyte, US Foods, RH Barringer, Wicked Weed, Lonerider, NoDa, Ponysaurus, and New Belgium.

After a day on the course, we gathered for the Awards Banquet and Buffet, hosted by Stalls Medical, featuring classic summer favorites—hamburgers and hot dogs—paired with a cold pint from Bond Brothers Beer Co.

A very special thank you to Cameron Bridger, our volunteer auctioneer, whose energy and cadence helped us raise an impressive $29,124. These funds have already gone to update vital center equipment and support Jeramie Grey and Delmonica Stanley as they traveled to Minneapolis, MN to study new neural plasticity techniques with Dr. Susan Harkema.

Thanks to Shae Portraits photos from the day are available in our online gallery.

A heartfelt thank you to TowneBank and all of our sponsors, partners, and supporters—you make this work possible. We especially could not have done all of the heavy lifting without the unsung heroes operating quietly in the background - Our Volunteers, who made the day run smoothly, We really appreciate the NextStep Raleigh Trainers (Jeramie, D, O, Travis and Jayne) coming in on their day off, Karen Thor, Jan Browder, Margie and Will Hennessee, Rory and Cameron Bridger, Whitney Wiener, Abigail Jenkins, Miller, Jenkins and his bevy of friends, Aaron Vaughen, and Nikki Shearin. 

Mark your calendars: 

6th Annual Charity Golf Tournament – June 1, 2026 at Prestonwood Country Club. 💚

A huge THANK YOU to everyone that came out to support NextStep Raleigh at the Bootlegger's Bash at IMURJ on Friday night. We had an amazing turnout with well over 100 attendees, and everyone looked fantastic in their 1920s style swag. There was a costume contest, gambling, dancing to three bands, a silent auction with tons of great items, a live auction that was really fun (thank you, outstanding auctioneer Sarah Santoro Thor) and a raffle which you could use all your mad gambling winnings for. Thanks to everyone's generosity we were able raise over $9,000 to benefit our center. With all your generous donations, we will be purchasing parallel bars and establishing our scholarship fund for our members.

NextStep is a Non-Profit and without ongoing donations we couldn't exist and continue to serve the Triangle paralysis community. If you were unable to attend the event (or even if you WERE able to attend) and would like to make a one time or regularly scheduled donation please CLICK HERE TO DONATE

A special THANK YOU to all of our sponsors for helping make this event possible:

IMURJ
Whiskey Kitchen
Duke Athletics
UNC Athletics
Carolina Hurricanes
Hope Valley Country Club
Lonnie Poole Golf
Durham Bulls
American Dance Festival
Trolley Pub
Rue Cler
It's a Southern Thing
May As Well Bar and Grille
Local 22
Frog Hollow Outdoors
The Ragged Gardens
The Best Cellar
Prestonwood Country Club
Bella Monica
Threehouse Studios
Tyler's Taproom
Red Hat Amphitheater
Raleigh Marriott
Parkside Restaurant
North Carolina Museum of Art

We hope to have your continued support in 2019 as we continue to grow and connect with our community.