Team Hoyt: Pure Inspiration

This article is taking in full from the Team Hoyt website, www.teamhoyt.com. Please visit it to find out in full about the team, the foundation and where to support them. You can donate by Paypal via their website, visit and be inspired.

The Early Years

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 as 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 live a "normal" life. This was just the beginning of Dick and Judy's quest for Rick's inclusion in community, sports, education and one day, the workplace.

Dick and Judy soon realized that though Rick couldn't walk or speak; he was quite astute and his eyes would follow them around the room. They fought to integrate Rick into the public school system, pushing administrators to see beyond Rick's physical limitations. Dick and Judy would take Rick sledding and swimming, and even taught him the alphabet and basic words, like any other child. After providing concrete evidence of Rick's intellect and ability to learn like everyone else, Dick and Judy needed to find a way to help Rick communicate for himself.

With $5,000 in 1972 and a skilled group of engineers at Tufts University, an interactive computer was built for Rick. This computer consisted of a cursor being used to highlight every letter of the alphabet. Once the letter Rick wanted was highlighted, he was able to select it by just a simple tap with his head against a head piece attached to his wheelchair. When the computer was originally first brought home, Rick surprised everyone with his first words. Instead of saying, "Hi, Mom," or "Hi, Dad," Rick's first "spoken" words were: "Go, Bruins!" The Boston Bruins were in the Stanley Cup finals that season. It was clear from that moment on, that Rick loved sports and followed the game just like anyone else.

In 1975, at the age of 13, Rick was finally admitted into public school. After high school, Rick attended Boston University, and he graduated with a degree in Special Education in 1993. Dick retired in 1995 as a Lt. Colonel from the Air National Guard, after serving his country for 37 years.

The Beginning of Team Hoyt

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 had been 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 I'm not handicapped."

This realization was just the beginning of what would become over 1,000 races completed, including marathons, decathlons and triathlons (6 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.
In a triathlon, Dick will pull Rick in a boat with a bungee cord attached to a vest around his waist and to the front of the boat for the swimming stage. For the biking stage, Rick will ride a special two-seater bicycle, and then Dick will push Rick in his custom made running chair (for the running stage).

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."

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 favourite race. Dick Hoyt hopes that he is able to push Rick in the Boston Marathon when he is 70 years old (2011)! Neither Dick or Rick are ready to retire yet.

Make A Donation

Team Hoyt is forever grateful for the monetary donations that are made to help further the education of people living with disabilities to become active members of their communities. Since the inception of Team Hoyt, Dick and Rick have been working tirelessly to improve the quality of life for those living with disabilities.

Your donation will go towards the many activities Team Hoyt and The Hoyt Foundation participate in to keep this education going.

You can choose between making a donation online through our certified PayPal account, or you may send a cheque to Team Hoyt at the mailing address below:
Donations By Cheque:
Please make cheques payable to "The Hoyt Foundation, Inc." and mail to:
Team Hoyt
ATTN: Kathy Boyer
241 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521

Racing History

234
Triathlons (6 Ironman distances, 7 Half Ironman)
21
Decathlons
67
Marathons (27 Boston Marathons)
8
18.6 Milers
89
Half Marathons
1
20K
35
10 Milers
31
Falmouth 7.1 Milers
8
15K's
212
10K's
151
5 Milers
4
8K's
18
4 Milers
119
5K's
8
20 Milers
2
11K's
1
7K
1009
Total Events (as of September 2009)

Please visit www.teamhoyt.com to find out more and donate.