In 1977, a question from a teenager changed the course of two lives. Fifteen-year-old Rick Hoyt, born with cerebral palsy, asked his father, Dick: “Can we join that race?” It was a request that seemed impossible. Rick could not walk or speak on his own, and Dick was not a runner. Yet in that moment, love answered with a simple yes.

Their first event was a 5-mile charity run. Dick pushed Rick’s wheelchair from start to finish, battling exhaustion and unfamiliar terrain. They crossed the line in last place, but the result was far greater than a finishing time. When asked how he felt, Rick’s reply became the spark for their lifelong journey: “Dad, when we run, I feel free.”

From that day forward, the father-and-son duo became known as Team Hoyt. Over the decades, they entered more than 1,000 endurance events, including 32 Boston Marathons and 6 Ironman triathlons. Each discipline posed its own challenges—whether it was Dick swimming with Rick in a specially designed raft, cycling with him on a tandem bike, or running while pushing his chair—but together they overcame them all.

Their mission was never about medals or recognition. It was about proving that barriers could be broken and that determination and love could move mountains. Every race they completed showed the world that disability does not define potential, and that commitment can carry both body and spirit beyond limits.

In 2021, Dick passed away at the age of 80, and in 2023, Rick followed at 61. Though they are no longer here, their story continues to inspire people around the world. Schools, sports organizations, and communities still share the message of Team Hoyt: that no finish line is unreachable when faced together.

The legacy of Team Hoyt endures as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when compassion and perseverance come together. Their journey was not just about running races, but about rewriting what is possible through love, resilience, and unbreakable partnership.