It’s Only A Mountain The Story of Rick and Dick Hoyt Richard Hoshino Shad Valley Presentation July 22 nd, 2004

Outline for Tonight’s Talk Starting the Race – Constantly Raising the Bar on Yourself – “Dare to Risk” Running the Race – Persevering Despite Obstacles –“Attitude more than Aptitude determines Altitude” Finishing the Race – Using Your Gifts to Serve and Inspire Others – “Pay It Forward”

Two Pithy Quotes Be the Change you want to see in the World – Mahatma Gandhi Most people see things as they are, and ask “Why?” But I dream things that never were, and ask “Why Not?” - George Bernard Shaw

Jimmy Akana and Ryan Hreljac

Dare to Risk To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach for another is to risk involvement. To expose your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To believe is to risk failure. But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

Dare to Risk (continued) The people who risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing, are nothing. They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live. Chained by their attitudes, they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is free.

Biography His family was forced out of their home His mother died Failed in business Ran for state legislature: lost Lost his job. He wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.

Biography (continued) Ran for state legislature again: won Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken Had a nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months Sought to become speaker of the state legislature: defeated Sought to become elector: defeated Ran for Congress: lost

Biography (continued) Ran for Congress again: won Ran for re-election to Congress: lost Sought the job of land officer in his home state: rejected Ran for Senate of the United States: lost Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention: got less than 100 votes Ran for U.S. Senate again: again he lost

Biography (continued) Elected President of the United States The path was worn and slippery. My foot slipped from under me, knocking the other out of the way, but I recovered and said to myself, "It’s a slip and not a fall." - Abraham Lincoln

Pay it Forward The human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in the giving of oneself to others that we truly live. - Ethel Andrus We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. -Winston Churchill

Rick Hoyt Born in 1962 as a Spastic Quadriplegic. Communicates using a Special Computer. Graduated in 1993 from Boston University, becoming one of the only non-vocal quadriplegics to graduate from university. Currently employed as a developer and consultant at Boston College for “Eagle Eyes”, a system to help disabled people operate a wheelchair with their eyes.

The First Race

The Boston Marathon

Team Hoyt 940 Races Completed, including 22 consecutive Boston Marathons. Personal Best of 2:40 in the marathon. Biked and Ran across the USA in 1992 (3735 miles in 45 consecutive days) Created the “Hoyt Fund” to integrate the physically challenged into everyday life (see

The Ironman Triathlon The Ironman takes place in Kona, Hawaii every year. It consists of three events: 3.8 km SWIM 180 km BIKE 42.2 kmRUN