Inspirational story

I heard about the father/son racing team, Dick and Rick Hoyt (Team Hoyt) a few years ago and I have never forgotten their story. Out of the tens of times that I have heard or read their story there is not one time that I haven't choked back tears. It is one that is truly inspirational on so many levels. I want to share their story with you in the hopes that it will have the same effect on you that it has on me.

Rick Hoyt was born in 1962 with cerebral palsy. This is a condition that occurs when oxygen to the brain is blocked during birth. In Rick's case, he was delivered with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. Rick's parents, Dick and Judy, were told that their child would have no hope for development and at nine months doctor's encouraged Dick and Judy to put their son away; "he would be a vegetable all his life". Dick and Judy both refused and they were determined to raise their son as normally as possible.

Tufts University engineers met with the family and after one of them told Rick and joke and he "cracked up", they knew that he could communicate. In 1972, the same group of engineers built an interactive computer for Rick to use to communicate. A cursor would move across a screen filled with rows of letters, and when the cursor highlighted a letter that Rick wanted, he would click a switch with the side of his head.

When the computer was first brought home, the Hoyt's were surprised to see that their son's first words were not Hi, Mom or Hi, Dad, but "Go Bruins." At the time, the Boston Bruins were in the race for the Stanley Cup. It was at that time Dick and Judy realized their son had a love for sports.

After a long battle, Rick was finally admitted to public schools in 1975. Two years later he told his father that he wanted to participate in a five mile run benefiting a local lacrosse player who have recently been paralyzed in an accident. Dick had never run in a race but agreed to push his son in his wheelchair. They finished next to last but still felt great triumph for what they had accomplished. After the race, Dick told his parents that he "did not feel handicapped when he was competing".

That statement was the beginning of a new life for Rick and his family. Since that first race in 1977 Dick and Rick have competed in over 984 events, including 229 Triathlons, 6 Ironman distances, 6 Half Ironmans, 66 Marathons, 26 Boston Marathons, 84 Half Marathons, and 108 5K. The answer to the question that may be in your head-No, they do not finish next to last anymore. During the Boston Marathon of 1981 Team Hoyt finished in the top quarter of the field. This earned them a lot of respect and recognition in the race world. Rick also took notice of the recognition from fellow-competitors while racing:

"Whenever we are passed (usually on the bike) the athlete will say "Go for it!" or "Rick, help your Dad!" When we pass people (usually on the run) they’ll say "Go Team Hoyt" or "If not for you, we would not be out here doing this."

Apart from Dick and Rick's athletic accomplishments, Rick graduated from High School and went on to receive a degree in special education from Boston University in 1993. He now works in Boston University's computer lab helping to develop a computer system that will one day help paralyzed individuals communicate through eye movement.

I commend Dick and Rick on their accomplishments and most of all I, commend Dick and Judy for never giving up on their son and his future. If you believe in or feel passionate about something-never give up and always fight. Nothing in life comes easy.