Be Inspired: Watch a Boy With Cerebral Palsy Run a Quarter Mile in a Field Day Event
- Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:35pm by
Liz Klimas
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As grade schools around the country begin wrapping up for the summer, many students are participating in field day events.
Matt is a student at Colonial Hills Elementary School in Worthington, Ohio, who has spastic cerebral palsy, which makes many field day events challenging for him. He was told he could sit out of a running activity, but, chose not to.
Watch his determined run and see if you aren’t chanting “Let’s go Matt!” with his classmates at the end as well:
It is unclear from the video how far exactly Matt ran, but Yahoo News reports it was a 400-meter dash on a grass track where one lap was 200 meters. At the beginning Matt is going pretty strong given his disability, but soon the video shows just how difficult this was for him. Matt’s gym teacher first joins him on the field for support, followed by classmates who begin chanting encouragement.
Matt running during a field day activity. (Image: YouTube screenshot)
Matt's gym teacher joins him on the field when he sees him beginning to get tired and close to giving up. (Image: YouTube screenshot)
Matt receives congratulations from his classmates after completing the 400 meter run. (Image: YouTube screenshot)
The YouTube description of a video showing Matt’s run posted on May 27 has more than 100,000 hits and describes the event as showing “a boy who is filled with determination and a school of children who spontaneously come together and inspire Matt and everyone of us to do and be better.”
[H/T Blaze reader Karol O.]
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conservativemommy
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 5:45pmAnd the last shall be first
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 12:22pmOh! God bless him! God bless them all! :)
Report Post »lukeohio
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 11:19amGO Matt!!
Report Post »urrybr
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:46amMatty for President! That young man has more heart, more courage, and more moxey than O’numbnuts will ever have!! And did you notice that an African-American boy put his arm aroung his white friend?? And a child shall lead them. Thanks Matty!
Report Post »scootervanneuter
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:31amSometimes it takes children to remind us adults how we are supposed to treat our fellow man
Report Post »rfycom
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:59amGreat suff but let’s not forget all the kids and adults in institutions with birth defects. I challenge you to go see for your self.
Report Post »daddyman
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:38amHaving coached middle school sports (boys and girls) for 10 years, I was awed. Matt pushed the limits of a “weaker” body with a powerful heart and mind. Most of my athletes will work hard, but only a few push the limits, and too many want nothing to do with hard work and going above and beyond. Unfortunately, we have created a generation where many kids feel that showing up and doing some work is to be rewarded.
Report Post »Thank you to Matt, his teachers, classmates and especially his parents. Without good parenting, Matt is a “poor, unfortunate kid”, now he is an inspiration!
loneindividual
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 9:26amThis almost changed my mind about killing myself.
Hope that kid knows he can keep other people’s hearts beating as long as his keeps.
He’s bringing up the rear! I will cheer him on from my grave!
Report Post »sellstate2008
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 10:18amDon’t give up. I made it through hell and came out the other side to live the life of my dreams. God loves you and you are worth it. E-mail me at patoc100@gmail.com.
OneTermPresident
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 4:53pm@LONEINDIVIDUAL… Hang in there, people care about you, me included. You can email me too… rsrighteousman@gmail.com
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 2, 2012 at 7:11amI was once in such a position, and with similar thoughts, when I was besieged on all sides and all but bereft of hope.
Things eventually changed for me. I worked internationally (labouring jobs, mostly) and became the father of two wonderful little girls, and while my life isn’t perfect (my wife took off a couple of years ago – to America, ironically, leaving me to raise our little family alone), I look around from time to time and thank God that I’m still here.
This might sound corny; but go for a walk each day for about an hour. It will improve your outlook after a couple of weeks, I promise. Don’t worry about everything at once; pick the easiest thing and deal with that, then the next easiest. Get out of bed each morning, even if you just get dressed, make the bed, and then lie on top of it. Make an effort to stay in contact with people that you know, even if you feel embarressed about your position. Help them out with something, no matter how small – it will make you feel better and they will likely help you in return. You will figure the rest out from there for yourself.
I assure you that gradually your life will improve. And then one day, like me, you will say to yourself; “Thank God I’m still here”.
Report Post »dsm
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:41amWhat a great story. Matt and his classmates should be very proud of the themselves. Very inspirational.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 5:14amI don’t mind saying that I got tears in my eyes as the video ended.
Bless Matt, and all his young friends.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 7:10amFine example of pure courage to live life to the best of your ability no matter what the situation. Matt you are an inspiration and I will be linking your story in an email to my youngest brother who also lives with this condition. You make this old Marine proud!!! oorah, Semper Fi
Report Post »freedomofspeech
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 4:22amnow that‘s what I’m talking about
Report Post »thebronze
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 2:18amGreat story! Great job, Matt!
Report Post »702TruthSeeker
Posted on June 1, 2012 at 2:07amIt is very refreshing to see positive stories, the blaze should try to find more of the positive stories to balance out the ones making all my hair fall out of my head
Report Post »