There are many types of disabilities, and millions of people live with one. Many of them struggle to do everyday activities and require assistance from family members and caregivers. Kyle Pease may have a disability called cerebral palsy, but that doesn’t stop him from reaching his goals.
With the help of his brother Brent, he plans to race against some of the best athletes in the world in the IRONMAN World Championship on Oct. 13.
It is considered one of the toughest single-day endurance events on the planet. They will be the first brother duo and the second wheelchair-assisted team to ever cross the finish line at the World Championship.
To prepare, the brothers have undergone 280 combined hours of swimming, biking, running, and strength training over the course of a few months, and they have competed in several other similar events. They are hoping to raise funds and awareness for the Kyle Pease Foundation.
The fundraising website describes the foundation, how it came to be, and how it helps people with disabilities.
It says:
“The Kyle Pease Foundation was founded by brothers Kyle & Brent Pease in June of 2011. Together they sought to create opportunities for inclusion for disabled persons in endurance sports.
“The purpose of the Kyle Pease Foundation (KPF) is to create awareness and raise funds to promote success for persons with disabilities by providing assistance to meet their individual needs through sports.
“Programs may include scholarship opportunities, purchasing of medical equipment or adaptive sports equipment for others or contributing to other organizations that provide similar assistance to disabled persons as well as participating in educational campaigns to create awareness about Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities.
“KPF will provide these services directly to individuals and partner with other non-profit organizations to achieve these goals. Direct benefits will be limited to persons with disabilities who need adaptive sports equipment, mobility devices or medical care.”
It’s not been easy, and the brothers know that they have to work hard if they want to compete in the event.
They will both need to be in the best shape possible to do well. The event will be rough not only on Kyle but also on his brother Brent, who will help him make it through the race.
Brent Pease, executive director of the Kyle Pease Foundation, said:
“The past three and a half months training for the IRONMAN World Championship have been the hardest, yet most rewarding in my life. This has been a dream of mine since I completed my first IRONMAN in 2010. To be able to compete with Kyle while raising money for a cause that is so near and dear to my heart makes it that much more magical. We’re ready to take on Kona and further prove that people of all abilities can accomplish anything they set their minds to, we can all be an IRONMAN.”
Kyle was born with cerebral palsy and has overcome many obstacles in his life.
He has a very supportive family who wants to see him do well and be successful. Brent has always been by Kyle’s side and has made it his mission to help Kyle accomplish his goals and stay active despite his disability.
Cerebral palsy is a common disability.
It can range in severity. Some people are able to walk and talk with the disability, and others need help doing simple tasks, such as tying their shoes or feeding themselves. There is no cure, and the treatments are limited. According to WebMD:
“Cerebral, or CP, is a group of disorders that affect balance, movement, and muscle tone. ‘Cerebral’ means the disorder is related to the brain, and ‘palsy’ refers to weakness or a muscle problem. CP starts in the area of the brain that controls the ability to move muscles. Cerebral palsy can happen when that part of the brain doesn’t develop as it should, or when it is damaged right around the time of birth or very early in life.”
Medical science may find a cure or a successful treatment for this disability one day.
Until them, brave people like Kyle and his brother will continue to raise awareness of the disease and push the limits to inspire others.
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