The Great Marathon Journey of a Father Pushing His Child in a Wheelchair

Rick Hoyt was born in 1962, and just hours after his birth, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to lack of oxygen to the brain. Doctors advised his parents to put Rick in a special care center because "he would never be able to communicate or move". But Dick and Judy Hoyt refused to accept that cruel fate.

They raised Rick as a normal child, finding every way for him to communicate. When Rick was 11, with the help of scientists at Tufts University, the family found a way for him to "talk" using a computer controlled by head movements. Rick's first words were: "Go Bruins!" - a cheer for the Boston Bruins hockey team. From then on, Rick not only "had a voice" but also began to express his desire to live a full life like everyone else.

In 1977, Rick expressed his desire to participate in a charity run to raise money for a paralyzed athlete. His father, Dick, who had never been an athlete, agreed to push his son in a wheelchair for the 8 km run.

Dick and his son appeared in many races.

After the race, Rick told his father, “Dad, when we ran, I felt like I wasn't disabled anymore." Those words changed both of their lives, opening up an inspiring journey of more than three decades.

From that first run, Dick and Rick became Team Hoyt. They didn’t stop at short races, but continued to conquer marathons, half marathons and even the Ironman Triathlon – the world’s toughest challenge with a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42km run.

For a normal father, just completing Ironman is impossible. But for Dick, he swam while pulling Rick on a rubber boat, cycled with a specially designed bike carrying his son, and ran while pushing a wheelchair weighing dozens of kilograms. Despite the fatigue and terrible pressure, he never gave up, just to let Rick fully experience the spirit of sports .

During their careers, they participated in more than 1,000 races, including more than 30 Boston Marathons – one of the world’s most prestigious races. The image of Dick pushing a wheelchair with Rick on the Boston race track has become a familiar symbol, etched in the minds of millions of viewers.

What makes Team Hoyt special is not just the achievements, but also the strong bond between father and son. Dick Hoyt once shared: “We never thought we were doing anything special. I just wanted to help my son live life to the fullest."

Team Hoyt became an inspiration worldwide.

Rick is also a testament to the extraordinary will to live. Despite cerebral palsy, he graduated from university with a major in Assistive Technology, lives independently and always spreads positive energy to those around him.

In 2014, Dick officially retired from marathon running at the age of 73, but Team Hoyt lives on in the memories of sports lovers. Rick passed away in 2021, and his father passed away three years later, ending a tearful and emotional journey. But the legacy they left behind – their undying father-son bond and never-give-up spirit – will forever inspire the world.

Today, Team Hoyt is celebrated at sporting events, schools, and charities. They have been the subject of books, documentaries, and are an inspiration to millions of athletes around the world.

Source: https://znews.vn/hanh-trinh-marathon-vi-dai-cua-nguoi-cha-day-con-tren-xe-lan-post1589838.html