They were a father and son team who proved that whatever obstacles you are faced with, hard work and determination will get you through – and the two have become an inspiration to people around the world.
For 40 years Dick Hoyt and his son Rick, from Holland, Massachusetts, have run more than 1,000 races, duathlons, and triathlons. But in this duo’s case, they are a team effort, one not being able to complete the race without the other.
Rick was born with cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. When Rick was born in 1962, doctors told his parents that their son would be better off in some sort of special care facility away from his family.
We cried, but we talked and we said, ‘No, we’re not going to put Rick away. We’re gonna bring Rick home and bring him up like any other child,’” Dick Hoyt told ABC News in a past interview.
Thankfully they found a doctor who supported their decision and told them to raise Rick as if he didn’t have a disability.
“I’m just a dad, and it meant everything to me to be able to take my son home,” Dick added. “And as he grew up, we knew he was smart, and funny, and curious. It was our job as parents to make sure he received all of the opportunities everyone else has.”
Rick was brought up surrounded by the family who loved him and even managed to get a computer so that Rick could communicate. Developed by engineering students at Tufts University the device was called the Hope Machine by the Hoyt family.
This was a game changer for Rick as he was able to attend public school. At 15 years old he decided he wanted to take part in a 5-mile race and asked his father if he could help him.
His father Dick Hoyt, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard, trained with his son and they both completed the race. After, Rick said, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.”
Dick understood what this meant to his son and from that day forward he started training so he and his son could take part in other races together.
The devoted dad started running every day with a bag of cement in his wheelchair while Rick was at school studying. The dynamic duo went on to take part in over 1,100 endurance events, including 72 marathons and six Ironman Triathlons. They even ran the Boston Marathon 32 times.
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