Rick was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. As a result of oxygen deprivation to Rick’s brain at the time of his birth, Rick was diagnosed a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Dick and Judy were advised to institutionalize Rick because there was no chance of him recovering, and little hope for Rick to lead a life like any other child. This was just the beginning of Dick and Judy’s quest for Rick’s inclusion in community, sports, education and, one day, the workplace.
In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who was paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long distance runner, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like my disability disappears.”
This realization was just the beginning of what would become more than 1,000 races completed, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons (six of them being Ironman competitions). Also adding to their list of achievements, Dick and Rick biked and ran across the U.S. in 1992, completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days.
Rick was once asked, if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? Rick responded, “The thing I’d most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once.”
Rick graduated from Boston University in 1993 and previously worked at Boston College’s computer laboratory, helping to develop special systems for people with disabilities.
The 2009 Boston Marathon was officially Team Hoyt’s 1000th race. Rick always says if it comes down to doing one race a year, he would like it to be the Boston Marathon: his favorite race. Dick (at 70 years young) is planning on pushing Rick in 2011 for their 29th Boston Marathon together! Neither Dick nor Rick are ready to retire.
“When my dad and I are out there on a run, a special bond forms between us,” says Rick, with the help of his computer voice program. “And it feels like there is nothing dad and I cannot do.”
The Hoyt Foundation, Inc.
The Hoyt Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed in 1989 with a mission to build the individual character, self confidence and self-esteem of America’s disabled young people through inclusion in all facets of daily life, including family and community activities, especially sports, at home, in schools and in the workplace. The Foundation also provides advice and support to groups and individuals who share this mission. Some groups that have benefited from the donations are Easter Seals of MA, Inc., Children’s Hospital, Boston - Augmentative Communication Program, and Rehab Resources, Inc. of Sturbridge MA.
The Hoyt Foundation is forever grateful to the monetary donations made to help people living with disabilities to become active members of their communities. Since the inception of Team Hoyt, Dick and Rick have worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for those living with disabilities. Your donation will go directly toward the many organizations The Hoyt Foundation supports and will be used to make that goal a reality.
When Rick Hoyt was born with a disability that everyone said could not be overcome, his father disagreed. Together, they have worked for more than 30 years and have proven everyone wrong - here and around the world.
