Remembering Dick Hoyt

In the past year, many famous people have passed away. One of the most important was a dad named Dick Hoyt who died at the age of 80. He was famous for pushing his son Rick in a wheelchair in the Boston Marathon and in the Ironman Triathlon. His son Rick was born with a severe form of cerebral palsy. He is unable to speak, and his head and knees are the only parts of his body he can move voluntarily.

Dick is an inspiration for millions of people by showing a father’s love for his son. The two founded the Hoyt Foundation in1989 to help young people with disabilities through all facets of daily life, including sports. His inspiration will live on with Team Hoyt, a team of father-son, mother-daughter running teams. The moto of Team Hoyt is “Yes You Can.”

To learn more of Dick’s story, visit: Dick Hoyt, Who Ran Marathons While Pushing His Son, Dies at 80 - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

-Jamie Lazaroff, Self Advocate Coordinator