Meet Matt, a fifth-grader at Colonial Hills Elementary School near Columbus. Matt has Spastic Cerebral Palsy, which basically means his muscles are in constant rebellion against his mind.
The video below is of the fourth race during field day at his school. Matt ran even though he didn’t have to, because screw it — he could do this. After the first lap of the two-lap race, he begins to struggle, but over comes his PE teacher and a spontaneous gaggle of dozens of his fellow classmates who cheer and chant and encourage Matt as they walk next to him until he crosses the finish line. Things just got a little dusty in the Scene offices.
(More background from the AP here.)
This article appears in May 30 – Jun 5, 2012.
