Find inspiration in these stories of people with cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects movement and coordination and sometimes it can prove difficult to perform certain tasks. When things get hard, it really helps using real life stories of people with cerebral palsy and turning them into inspiration for your own paths. That’s why we want to share as much as possible stories of people who have gone through the struggles and came out victorious.
Keeping up with cerebral palsy
Sometimes, your journey becomes hard. You might struggle to walk, to move, or even to find motivation to do your physical exercises.. In these moments where you seem daunted, you need something to bring you back on track.
We need some inspiration, and stories to keep up your energy, enthusiasm and good spirits alive. That’s why we think it would be a good idea to share with you stories of people with cerebral palsy and tell you a bit about their life paths. Perhaps you will too find in them the motivation and courage that can inspire you.
The kid who inspired Nike’s hands free shoes
In February 2021 the news of Nike’s hands free shoes went viral. These are the first revolutionary shoes that people with disabilities can easily put on. The story behind it is even more beautiful, since they were actually designed from the idea of a kid with cerebral palsy. Matthew Walzer was born with cerebral palsy and though he managed to overcome a lot of his limitations, one remained. His limited movement in his righ hand made it difficult for him to put shoes on. So he decided to write a letter to Nike.
He wrote:
“My dream is to go to the college of my choice without having to worry about someone coming to tie my shoes every day,” Walzer wrote. “I’ve worn Nike basketball shoes all my life. I can only wear this type of shoe because I need ankle support to walk. At 16 years old, I am able to completely dress myself, but my parents still have to tie my shoes. As a teenager who is striving to become totally self-sufficient, I find this extremely frustrating and, at times, embarrassing.”
The letter got the attention of Tobie Hatfield, designer at Nike, and he invited Matthew to co-create the first hands free shoes. The GO FlyEase are an amazing solution and we are deeply inspired by Matthew, who was able to reach out and co-create this.
Image Chad Wallin
He wanted to skate so he did
12 year-old Zander Wallin from Manitoba had a very big dream. He wanted to skate. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at only 18 months old, he has been a hockey and skating fan but he could never really try it out. He has mobility issues due to cerebral palsy. So skating for him was something he held very dearly and he saw himself doing it, just like his brother.
So on Christmas day his parents gifted him his first pair of skates, that his father helped build. The first tries were hard, but with a lot of determination and strength, he did it. He never let his dream go and he fought so hard to move and be able to skate. His father also built him a small skating ring in their yard so he could be safe while practising it. This little boy is a reminder that we can do whatever we set our minds to.
A 12-year-old boy with cp raises £100,000 for charity
One of the most beautiful stories we came across recently was Noah’s art lockdown project. Noah has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. But all of that didn’t let him settle for less and he started painting during lockdown as a project with his father. His paintings were posted on Instagram by his father and they quickly got more attention. People started buying them and artists helped him. Finally, he managed to raise £100,000 for charity. He’s a great reminder that whenever you set your mind to something and you fight hard, it does happen. You can find the full stories of his art project here.
We hope we got to send you some positive vibes and inspiration today with the stories of these amazing people with cerebral palsy. If you know of any other stories that we should share, please let us know. We also regularly update our Blog with inspiring stories, useful information and we invite you to have a look on our latest articles.
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