"Team Long Brothers" is what they call themselves and completing triathlons is their game. Connor Long, 9, is the older one who assists his younger brother Cayden, 8, in their triathlons. Cayden has cerebral palsy and he is showing the world that this won't stop him from accomplishing what most can only dream of.
How does it work? They start in the water where Connor pulls his brother who is in an inflatable harness. Then they move to the 3 mile bike portion where a cart with Cayden is attached to Connor's bike. Cayden is pushed in a cart for the remaining half mile run. The awesome duo does not complete this amazing task on their own - in each triathlon, they are constantly encouraged by screaming crowds. They are starting to get worldwide fame.
Their Facebook page has nearly 20,000 followers! Pretty impressive for two cool kids under the age of 10 :) A few weeks ago, the brothers were asked to be the 12th Titan at the NFL football game in Nashville. They got to hang out with the players, raise the flag, and enjoy front row seats!! Sounds like these two brothers have a great thing going on.
The two brothers are having a blast! Check out their expressions as they cross the finish :) -Image Credit: http://www.teamlongbrothers.blogspot.com/
As they say on their website - "Doesn't Matter Where You Finish As Long As You Cross Together". We couldn't have said it better ourselves.
Peace & Love,
Jon
The Good World News
Ben Baltz, a bone cancer survivor, was racing in his third triathlon of the summer. He was only a half mile away from the finish when he noticed something wrong with his prosthetic leg.
“It [the leg] wobbles,” Baltz told WHP-TV. While running, the screw came out and Ben fell down.
“I saw Ben fall to the ground,” Pfc. Matthew Morgan, 19, of San Diego, informed the Marine Corps Times. “I made it there first and he had already regained his composure and was trying to fix his leg. I asked if he needed help and he said, ‘No, I just want to finish the race.’”
Pfc. Matthew Morgan knew what he needed to do. Marines are trained never to leave anyone behind. He picked Ben up, put him on his back, and started running with a team of Marines.
Captain Frank Anderson, Morgan's commanding officer, wasn't surprised by this act. “We are selfless as an institution in the Marine Corps,” Anderson said. “Putting others before ourselves is second nature.”
Way to go guys!!! This is some awesome great news :)
Peace & Love,
Jon
- The Good World News
They call themselves "Team Maddy". The team consists of Rick van Beek and his daughter Maddy who has cerebral palsy. Maddy's cerebral palsy makes her unable to talk, see or walk. In a blog post, Rick explains how he used to smoke two packs of cigarettes and chew a tin of tobacco every day. He had been smoking since the age of 12. But he stopped all of his unhealthy habits because of his daughter. She helped him and he helped her.
Rick's life turned around when he saw his daughter being pushed along through the Grand Rapids Marathon. "To see her being so happy and enjoying every bump in the road was more than I could handle, my emotions took over.", Rick said. From that point on, he quick smoking and starting doing triathlons with his daughter.
Rick told TODAY, “It was that day that I realized, Madison is not a burden ... she is a blessing that has changed our lives and so many other people’s. Before Madison showed me the way to a healthy lifestyle, I guess you can say I was running away from it.”
Rick van Beek pulls Maddy in a kayak during the swimming portions and he rides with her attached to a cart during the biking sections. The father daughter duo has participated in over 75 racing events. This is one father daughter team that continues to inspire many!
Peace & Love,
Jon
- The Good World News