DICK (FATHER): JUNE 1, 1940–
RICK (SON): JANUARY 10, 1962–
FatherandSon
Superathletes
RUNNERS
PIONEERS
HUMANITARIANS
Y
ES YOU CAN!
When Rick Hoyt was fifteen years old, he
wanted to take part in a 5-mile (8 km) benefit
run to help a young person who had been in
an accident. Rick shared his wish with his dad,
who agreed to do everything he could to help
Rick make it happen. For many teenagers a run
like this wouldn’t be such a big deal. But Rick
was born with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a
brain disorder that affects muscles and the way
people move. Rick couldn’t walk or speak. But
that didn’t stop Rick and his dad, Dick, from
dreaming big. Dick would serve as his son’s legs
in the 5-mile run, pushing Rick to the finish line
in a wheelchair.
Facing challenges head-on was nothing new
to the Hoyts. Rick has cerebral palsy because
his umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck
during birth. The cord interfered with Rick’s
airflow and injured his brain.
Many people doubted that Rick would ever
live a productive life. Doctors advised that Dick
and his wife, Judy, put Rick into a long-term care
facility. He would spend his life in a hospital.
But his parents always knew that an intelligent,
capable person was living inside a body that was
holding him back.
Rick and Judy fought to make it possible
for Rick to attend public school. They had a
special computer made that allowed Rick to
communicate, unlocking the smart boy inside.
He went on to graduate from high school before
attending Boston University. He graduated in
1993 with a degree in special education.
Their spirit of accomplishment and
tenacity kept Rick and his dad going when they
completed their first 5-mile run. At the time,
they had no idea that they were beginning a
long, inspiring journey. They became known as
Team Hoyt, and YES YOU CAN! became their
TeamHoyt
POWER WORDS!
“Dad, when I’m running,
it feels like I’m not
handicapped.”
—Rick Hoyt
Dick Hoyt
(left)
and his son Rick posed for this
photo before a race in Holland, Massachusetts, on
May 5, 2010.
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