By Nate Jones
Staff Writer
Team Hoyt, the father and disabled son “Ironman” competitive pair spoke at a recent dinner in South Portland to benefit the construction of a new Morrison Developmental Center in Scarborough. Jim Decamillis, executive director for the Morrison Center said that 385 people attended the event and they are anticipating a “good amount of donations” from the fundraiser. In addition to Team Hoyt’s keynote address, Gov. John Baldacci and Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit-Samuelson also spoke at the event.
Rick and Dick Hoyt, 46 and 65, have come a long way since Rick was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and has used a wheelchair ever since. Rick first learned to communicate with his family through the use of a specialized computer 36 years ago. Dick said they began racing for one of Rick’s classmates who had been injured in a car accident. The classmate had been a popular basketball player and was paralyzed after the accident, Dick said.
“Rick wanted to show him that he could still do things,” Dick said. “I had no experience running. Rick and I finished next-to-last, but not last.”
Since that first race the pair have participated in the Ironman competition in Hawaii and many other competitions allowing them to travel all over the world, Dick said.
When they race, Dick either pushes Rick in his wheelchair, pulls him through the water on a special boat, or pedals him uphill on a two-seater bike.
“It’s a pretty heavy when you’re pushing uphill, we weigh about 365 pounds as opposed to 150,” Dick said.
There have been changes in their racing equipment over the years; Dick said they have worked with bike companies to make a two person racing bike and had an engineer designed a three-wheeled chair for Dick to push while he was running.
“Five years later you see parents pushing those things everywhere,” Dick said.
Their racing equipment isn’t the only thing that’s changed, as they are now able to enjoy some luxuries while on the road. Dick said that he was given a private jet to use for travel from their home in Massachusetts. to attend an event in Houston, Texas.
“That’s the way to fly,” he said. “We’re getting spoiled rotten.”
Last year the pair raised $1.5 million for various groups and organizations, Dick said.
“Who would have thought that we’d be able to do all this?” Dick said. “When we first started nobody wanted anything to do with us. We never would have expected this.”
Everywhere they go, Team Hoyt carries their message of “Yes You Can,” which Dick said can be important for families with disabled children to learn. He said while dealing with a disabling injury or birth is not easy, “it’s important to make up your mind” to stay positive.
“You can’t baby them,” Dick said. “Rick is real strong, there’s no reason to go easy on him.”
Dick said he is proud of Rick’s accomplishments, which include graduating from Boston University and living on his own.
“He would rather die than live dependently,” Dick said.
Dick said although Rick never went to a developmental center such as Morrison, he believes that centers like Morrison have done “an amazing amount” for the disabled by reminding them that “Yes they can.”
“They should be able to do what everyone else can,” Dick said. “There’s no such word as can’t.”
According to a Morrison Developmental Center newsletter, the $5 million project has been approved by the Scarborough town council and will be completed by 2009. The 25,000 square foot building will be on seven acres of the former Pleasant Hill Gold Course and allow Morrison to expand its programs by 25 percent.