Connor and Cayden Long are the 2012 SportsKids of the Year!

We can't think of a more shining example of brotherly love than this. Read all about the 2012 SportsKids of the year in our latest "In the News" story.

http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org/stories/connor-and-cayden-long-are-the-2012-sportskids-of-the-year

Bonner Paddock Sets World Record; Completes Ironman World Champs With Cerebral Palsy

October 31, 2012By Theresa Manahan

BONNER PADDOCK once again is making the most of an NHL lockout. During the ’04-05 lockout, Paddock, while employed by the Ducks, was urged by Owners HENRY and SUSAN SAMUELI to explore more about his cerebral palsy. Paddock became involved in United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County and decided to become the first person with CP to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. This time around, Paddock wanted to be the first person with CP to complete the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. He finished the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run with a most unusual yet inspiring dance as he crossed the finish line. Paddock, 37, now serves as Senior VP/Marketing & Partnership Activation for Young’s Market Company. Below he discusses his heroic effort, which thus far has raised almost $1M.

Q: First things first, what was your first meal after nearly 17 hours of exercise?
Paddock: The first thing that actually went into my body was two IV bags because I was taken to the medical tent right after I crossed the finish line. I’m not sure where the dancing moves came from when I crossed the finish line because miles before the finish I wasn’t doing well at all. Then, I don’t know, when you get so close you muster it up and go. When I hugged my coach GREG WELCH, I just felt my legs and everything else just start going. They had to unfortunately help me to the medical tent and I was there for almost two hours afterward. So the first thing I got to eat per se was two beautifully-made IV bags for me (laughs). … But my first real meal was a cheeseburger. I was craving a cheeseburger and fries.

Q: The Ironman has a strict time limit of 17 hours to complete the race and you came in 21 minutes before deadline. Did you have a plan for the race? How did it pan out?
Paddock: It was close. I had done the half Ironman earlier and a bunch of other smaller races, sprints and Olympic distance triathlons so we really had a good gauge on what my paces are no matter what the weather is plus or minus wind. I sent race maps out to everybody that was coming out and I told them roughly what times to be at each of the areas, like 10- or 20-minute gaps. I hit every one of those almost dead on. It was great because I think in order for this crazy endeavor to actually work we had to have a perfect game plan, a perfect race. We knew we were going to be 11:30 to midnight. 11:30 was best-case scenario and midnight or somewhere after was going to be the worst-case scenario. I nailed the bike. I told people eight hours and I did it in eight hours, two seconds. I told them that I’d do the swim between 1:20 and 1:30; I did it just short of 1:25. We trained for almost two years for this thing and my coach is a legend and arguably the greatest male triathlete, one of the best male triathletes to walk this earth. We felt like we had a great game plan, but it had to be.

Q: What was the hardest part of the race for you? Which leg (swim, bike, run)?
Paddock: With my cerebral palsy, since it primarily affects the lower half of my body — it’s spastic diplegia — that means my legs and lower back are very tight. … The bike basically is the worst for me because it’s almost 99% lower body. I’m just stuck on that seat and just pedaling those little legs. The bike for sure is the hardest for me, then the run. The swim is by far the best and I actually really enjoy swimming.

Q: You are sponsored by Oakley. Did you have any pre- or postrace obligations or appearances?
Paddock: Oakley has just been a supporter of my endeavors. They always provide product. They outfitted our expedition team in 2008 when we climbed Kilimanjaro to break that world record for a person with cerebral palsy. It’s a company based in Orange County where I grew up and where I currently live. They’ve been a huge supporter of the foundation. They have always given me everything that I need in terms of eyewear and stuff like that. Greg Welch works for Oakley so my coach works there. My contact went over and talked to him to say, “Hey this guy is interested in doing an Ironman, do you mind chatting with him?” And that’s how the whole thing came together.
Q: Can you describe the moment you crossed the line?
Paddock: It was a whole lot of emotion going on there. Like my dance — I don’t know what that was, really. It was arguably the worst dance I have ever seen in my entire life. I don’t even remember much of it. It was just sheer elation and emotion and happiness. I wish I could say I thought of everything, except that I just kept saying in my head “We did it, we did it, we did it. Hell yeah, we did it!”

Q: What’s the blue cowboy hat worn by your supporters about?
Paddock: I have to give credit to one of the guys that climbed Killi with me, his name is JAYSON DILWORTH. He said he was coming out to Hawaii to support me and asked if we get team shirts. Every team out here has team shirts. So he said, “We got to do something different then. We’re OM Foundation, we’re going after a world record here.” So I told him to shoot me some ideas. And he’s from Texas. One day a link comes over with these huge 20-, 25-gallon hats. Monstrous foam cowboy hats. We just put the Go Bonner on each side of it with the foundation website and logo on the front. Everybody loved those things. People were asking to donate $50 to the foundation if we gave them our hats. Other people said they would make a donation if you cheer for my brother that’s coming by here shortly. They ended up calling it the “Blue Hat Army” ‘cause the NBC camera crews said it was the largest contingent by far. I just bought them out of my own pocket. I just wanted to give a few nice gifts for the people, because I knew we had over a 100 people come out.

Q: How is your body taking it? Any injuries during the race? After?
Paddock: I did have a bunch of little knick-knack injuries along the way. I had the standard issues: I had wet feet. I put so much ice down my shirt and my pants to cool the core because I heat up so fast because my body is already tight and overworking. So we try to keep the body as cool as possible, the core and all of my hip flexors and quads that really heat up, and that’s when they start cramping and spasming with my CP. At every aid station we dumped a ton of ice water on me, so my feet were soaking wet for 17 hours through my shoes. The bottom of my feet look like a cheese grater were taken to them. But they are not pusing and bleeding now, which is good.

Q: NBC Sports will broadcast the 2012 Ironman World Championships this Saturday at 4:00pm ET. Do you have plans for a watch party?
Paddock: The NBC camera crews spent almost 30 minutes with me as I was riding on the bike and then three times when I was out doing the marathon course. You just keep your fingers crossed and hope you don’t end up on the cutting room floor. It would be great exposure for the foundation, that’s what I’m really hopeful for. I do these things to try to help raise the awareness and share the story. The watch party will be calmly at my house. It’s just going to be my closest friends that are in town. My contact from Oakley, he and his wife are going to come.

Q: What’s your next adventure? You said before Mt. Everest wasn’t an option. Is that still the case?
Paddock: I think that the body is pretty banged up and we’ve put the best duct tape job we’ve ever done on a body up basically to get it to the start line. I’m not getting any younger; I’m not a spring chicken. I do feel for at least a good long while – I would never say never, but I pretty much am convinced that it’s going to be never — that I just am good. Someone came up to me and said, “I wonder what the number of people that have climbed Kilimanjaro and done Ironman Kona? It’s probably the smallest number we could even remotely think of is how many people have even done both. And to throw it in just for you to be a show-off — you have cerebral palsy. It’s incredible. I don’t know where you go from there.” And I said, “You know what? I don’t know if I go anywhere from there.” I think I’m content with using my time for the foundation. Not for training for something like that but continuing to get the message out.

Join Our Family
Sign up for our free enewsletter for more blogs, articles, and news about CP kids and their families.

For more information on Cerebral Palsy please visit:
http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org

Inspiring Kindergartners With Cerebral Palsy Compete In Race

October 12, 2012
By Todd Civin 

As I begin to get up in years, having just crossed the half a century mark, it brings me immeasurable joy each time I witness the next generation begin to play a positive role in shaping our future.

As a close friend and fan of famed father and son triathletes, Dick and Rick Hoyt, I often wonder if there is an inspirational team waiting in the wings to carry forth the message of inclusion, acceptance and disability awareness that Team Hoyt has etched into our society over the past three decades.

Despite the fact that Rick Hoyt was born as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, he has been pushed, pedaled and paddled to the finish of nearly 1,100 athletic competitions by his father, Dick, to the amazement and pleasure of fans around the globe.

So it literally sent shivers up my aging spine when I learned of the inception of a young running team that has been affectionately referred to as, “The Protégés.”

Unlike the Hoyts, who are now age 72 and 50 respectively, the Protégés barely register on a calendar, at age six and five. That’s right.  The heirs to the inspirational throne are barely old enough to attend grammar school and yet are lacing them up for a mile run together this November 10 in Norfolk, VA.

Like the Hoyts, the Protégés race with one teammate acting as the pusher and the other covering the miles in a wheelchair, taking in the sights and sounds of the adoring crowd, yet every bit as much the athlete from the starting gun to the finish line.

Jayden Nogueras, age six, attends the Peebles Elementary School in Bourne, MA, and despite the fact that he was born with Chromosome Disorder of 1p36 Duplication, Cerebral Palsy and Septo-Optic Dysplasia, he will be serving as the pusher. His five-year-old best friend and racing partner, Elson Martinez, will be enjoying the ride from his specially designed running chair.

Elson was a preemie born at 32 weeks in April of 2007. He was 14 inches long and weighed 2 lbs 15 oz. at birth. Elson spent the first six months of his life in neo-natal intensive care before being transferred to the step down unit where he stayed until December 24, 2007.

He spent Christmas at home, but after only two weeks was readmitted until June 2008. Elson endured 13 surgeries in his first year of life. He had to have half of his intestines removed because they did not form correctly, causing blockage.

Elson had a VP shunt and a VA shunt placed due to his Aqueductal Stenosis not properly forming. He has had several revisions to the shunts. Elson has been diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, Absence of Corpus Calosum, Seizure Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, and Developmental Delay. He currently attends kindergarten at Pembroke Elementary.

“Jayden stated last school year, he wants to be a ‘Team Hoyt pusher’ shared his mother, Mary-Liz, who together with her husband, Jose, recently founded my Team Triumph Cape Cod (mTT-CC), a running team comprised of Captains (riders) and Angels (pushers).

Jayden was the inspiration and motivation for the formation of mTT-CC. “Then jokingly, we asked him who he was going to push because he’s so small and many of the other riders are bigger and older than him. He then responded, ‘Elson is small, too. I can push Elson.’”

Jayden, who stands all of 42 inches tall and tips the scale at a feather-like 36 pounds, began his racing career in 2010 with Team Hoyt Virginia Beach as a rider (captain). It wasn’t until May of 2011, while visiting the Hoyts at their home in Holland, MA that he vacated the chair and traversed a 50-yard dash course on his own.

At that point, Jayden became a “running junky” and began training daily to increase his speed and stamina. In July of that year he entered and completed the One-Mile Allen Stone Kid’s Run in Virginia Beach, VA.

Elson, who is confined to a wheel chair, is currently a “captain” for Team Hoyt Virginia Beach, where he is normally pushed by either his brother Ruben or friend and fellow Angel, Dena Goble.

In preparation for the Norfolk’s Freedom Warrior Trot 1 Mile Run, Jayden’s father, Jose is making some slight alterations to accommodate the diminutive racing team.

“We put smaller wheels on our running chair and we are talking to bike shops about the best way to lower the handlebars,” explains Nogueras, who serves as a Supply Petty Officer 2nd Class in the U.S. Coast Guard stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base in Buzzards Bay, MA.

“Jayden believes that he is now that much closer to becoming a real Team Hoyt pusher. We have to thank Team Hoyt VB’s Dennis Welch for being his initial motivator and inspiration.”

“Jayden motivates me to keep working on my running,” adds Nogueras. “I never ran or liked to run before Jayden. It’s good to see Jayden get excited about crossing the finish line and buying new running shoes.”

Jayden’s extremely proud and supportive mother, Mary-Liz, continues, “Running has played a huge role in Jayden’s self-esteem. He is also learning many life lessons such as goal setting and overcoming adversity. I think running has made him more resilient.”

To encourage and support Jayden and Elson’s run, please visit The Proteges Donation Page. All donations will help support my Team Triumph Cape Cod. Jayden and Elson have established a goal of $2000.

myTEAM TRIUMPH is an athletic ride-along program created for children, teens, adults and veterans with disabilities who would normally not be able to experience endurance events such as triathlons or road races.

For more information on Cerebral Palsy please visit:
http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org

Two brothers, One with Cerebral Palsy, Compete in a Triathlon

October 10,2012
View original article

Two brothers from Atlanta are running, swimming and cycling to fulfill a dream.

On a Sunday morning in Scottsboro, Kyle Pease gets ready for his second long course triathlon. Just one of the 20 races he`s competed in, in the past 2 years.

Kyle competed in his first race in 2011. But his story started 27 years ago, when Kyle was born with cerebral palsy.
Kyle’s father, Richard says, “Nobody told me how to do this, nobody wrote a book. But y’know, where do you go and ask for help? So you sort of figure it out on your own. At least in those days we did.”
As a child Kyle played wheelchair adapted sports. Then, in his mid 20`s he turned to his brother Brent, and asked him to do a triathlon.
Brent says, “There wasn’t any hesitation; I mean, it was absolutely. Let’s figure it out.”

The brothers found a way to adapt every event to their own set of needs. What is usually an individual sport, became a team effort.

“There are highs and there are lows. I think for us the hardest part is the days are typically long. We’re two people out there. I think everybody out here goes through the same ups and downs. Not everything goes the way you want it to,” Brent explains.
Through each event, like each day, Kyle pushes through, with a smile on his face.

Nearly 7 hours in piercing cold isn’t enough to dampen his mood. It is here Kyle Pease has found his place. By his brother`s side.
With each person lucky enough to cross his path, inspired by spirit.
Kyle says, “You know, just keep a positive attitude and you’ll have a gift. And we have to open up that gift and share that gift with others.”

In addition to the races they compete in, the brothers have started the Kyle Pease Foundation.
The organization helps people with disabilities reach their goals through sports.

Join Our Family

Sign up for our free enewsletter for more blogs, articles, and news about CP kids and their families.

For more information on Cerebral Palsy please visit:
http://www.cpfamilynetwork.org

The Inspiring Story of Matt Woodrum, an 11 year-old with Cerebral Palsy

August 7th, 2012
Sign up for our weekly newsletter!

The following is the definition of courage and inspiration. When 11 year old Matt Woodrum, who has cerebral palsy, was struggling through his 400 meter race at school, his physical education teacher walked over to check on the 5th grader and provide some encouragement. Then an amazing thing happened.  As Matt continued to run, more and more of his school mates converged and congregated alongside him, running and cheering him on until he completed the race. Heroic!

It was his fourth race of the day, and one he didn’t have to run. Only a handful of students opted to give it a try, said Anne Curran, Woodrum’s mother. She said her son doesn’t exclude himself from anything, playing football and baseball with friends and his two brothers.

“He pushes through everything. He pushes through the pain, and he pushes through however long it may take to complete a task,” she said. “He wants to go big or go home.”

The sometimes shaky footage shows Woodrum beginning the race on a steady pace with his classmates, though he quickly lags. As several students pass him on their second lap around the grassy course, Blaine walks over to make sure Woodrum is ok.

“The kids will tell you that Matt never gives up on anything that he sets out to do,” said Blaine, who has been Woodrum’s teacher since kindergarten. “They knew he would cross that finish line, and they wanted to be a part of that.”

Here is the video of Matt!

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=8296170

For more information on Cerebral Palsy please visit:

Cerebral Palsy Family Network

Dad Competes In Triathlon With Daughter Who Has Cerebral Palsy

August 14th, 2012
From Huffington PostSign up four weekly newsletter!

A Michigan man who participated in a local triathlon over the weekend has been called the ”father of the century” by some because of the devotion he has shown for his child.

Rick van Beek of Byron Center, Mich., took part in the Sanford and Sun sprint triathlon this Saturday with his 13-year-old daughter, Madison, the Midland Daily News reports.

The teenager couldn’t take part in the event alone, so her heroic dad pulled and pushed her along with him, taking every stride and stroke together toward the finish line.

Maddy, as she is affectionately known, has cerebral palsy. The teen can neither walk nor talk, and her dad says he isn’t even sure that she can see.

But what van Beek does know is that Maddy loves the outdoors.

“She functions like a 3-month-old, and one of the very few things that we know she enjoys is being outside, being in the water, feeling the breeze in her hair and in her face,” van Beek, 39, told Midland Daily News.

So, in 2008, van Beek — then terribly out of shape and a heavy smoker – decided he would start training for outdoor races.

In his blog, van Beek admits that getting into shape was initially extremely difficult.

However, he was determined to live a healthier life for Maddy and to share the fruits of that labor with her.

“I run for and with my daughter,” he wrote in 2010.

For the past four years, under the name Team Maddy, van Beek and his daughter have been participating in half-marathons, triathlons and other outdoor races.

In an interview with Fox News in May, van Beek estimated that Team Maddy has participated in more than 70 events throughout the years.

“I think Madison has changed more peoples’ lives than I even know about – without doing anything, just being out there. Not me, her,” van Beek told Fox News. “We make a good team.”

Despite his humility, van Beek has undoubtedly touched many lives himself.

“That was just so inspirational to see,” race coordinator Misty Angle told Allegan County News of van Beek, after seeing him cross the finish line at the 2011 Tri Allegan triathlon. “That was definitely one of the highlights of the event for me and a lot of people.”

Over the weekend in Sanford, Team Maddy came out in full force yet again.

Despite the gloomy weather, Maddy and her father participated together as usual: Van Beek swimming while pulling Maddy in a kayak, then biking with her in a cart behind him, before finally running the last leg while pushing her in a wheelchair.

“[The emotion I feel for Maddy] drives me or inspires me to do the things that I do. Call it inspiration, call it motivation, call it what ever you want, I call it LOVE,” van Beek wrote in his blog last year.

“That will never fade…She is my heart and I am her legs, though someday she might not physically be able to be there with me, she will always be in my heart, quietly cheering me on.”

The story of Maddy and her dad is reminiscent of that of Cayden Long, the six-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who participates in triathlons thanks to his older brother.Like the van Beeks, the Long brothers compete together, with 9-year-old Connor pushing and pulling his younger brother through the race course.

According to Midland Daily News, van Beek is planning on forming a non-profit organization called “Team Maddy” that will “raise funds to build equipment and adaptive devices” for special needs children.

 Sign up four weekly newsletter!

View original article