Rick carries Maddy during the running leg of the triathlon.
How far would you push the limits of your physical ability for someone you love?
Rick van Beek was 35 and had been a smoker since the age of 12. By the time his two daughters were born he was smoking two packets a day and had little care for his own health and well-being.
But today, Rick is fit, he is healthy and he is a non-smoker and the reason for his transformation? His daughter, Maddy.
Maddy suffers from cerebral palsy.
That means her brain and nervous system don’t function the same way as the rest of us. The abnormalities in Maddy’s brain mean that she does not have control of her limbs and is unable to communicate basic needs and wants to the people who care for her.
Her father Rick – who could barely walk around the block without puffing when Maddy was a baby – now runs half marathons, triathlons and other outdoor races to raise money for charities that support cerebral palsy research.
In fact, Rick has just completed a triathlon where he carried, yes, carried, 13-year-old Maddy throughout the entire race. That means holding her afloat during the swim, pushing her in a cart during the cycle and carrying her during the run. Take a look:
Rick van Beek with his daughter Madison. 
Rick writes in his blog about what it’s like to compete with his daughter and how she has changed his outlook on life:
I am a Road Warrior, running and fighting for my daughter. I run for my daughter, Maddy, she has CP…
Every time we got to a new mile stone we would stop, I would check on Maddy and she was happy. I don’t know if she new this was here last run before a long break or not, but she sure sucked it up and made it all 5 miles.
The only tears I saw, besides my own, were when we were going back into the house. Even then it was a small whimper then off to sleep she went, IN HER CART, that doesn‘t normally happen. It was a GREAT day.
As a parent of a special child it is always a struggle to know if you are doing the right thing, because she can’t tell me how she is feeling. That run, I knew we were doing the right thing…
The enjoyment she has in the cart has changed all our lives. The last race we did I told her that if she could recover to run again, I would be better…
I need to have a reason to run in order to fulfill my promise to Maddy. We want to run the 5/3 25K together again this coming spring and feel this would be the best way to train for that. Running with her gives me power, a power more people should know.
Together Everyone Accomplishes More.
If you wish to, you can donate to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance (who provides direct services to more than 4000 children, teenagers and adults living with cerebral palsy in Australia) here.
Comments
49 Comments so far
This reminds me of a story my mother told me.
Long before us kids were born and mum and dad were dating, my mother had heard about a child born with no arms and no legs and rejected by its parents. She asked him: “What would you do if you had a child with no arms and no legs?” To which he replied: “I would be its arms and legs”.
It’s clear this father sees his child in much the same way – I believe he said “She is my heart, and I am her legs”.
Beautiful.
loading...
His daughter looks so happy in the race.
loading...
Well it’s a good thing disabled people exist so they can change our outlook on life! This is pretty much the most abhorrent attitude towards disabled people I can think of; keep them alive no matter how pathetic their quality of life just so we can feel good about being able-bodied. This story didn’t make me cry at all; in the vein of Q&A this week, I pretty much see it as an argument for infanticide.
loading...
Wow. How would you decide which babies should die and which should live? How would you determine their quality of life and decide if it meant that it wasn’t worth them living?
I have worked with many disabled children of varying abilities and disabilities and not once have I thought that they should have been killed at birth. They have changed my outlook on life, because they make the most of their situation and don’t sweat the small stuff. They find joy in such small things.
Yes life is not easy for them and it is hard on the parents. But who are you to say that their life is not worth living?
loading...
Are you for real??? What a disgusting post and attitude you have Claire. Better hope that you are only blessed with perfect children otherwise will you be putting them down like a lame animal?
loading...
Well it’s obviously illegal to do that but I would be putting them in a nursing home or other facility like many people do.
loading...
There is no nursing home for babies, infants and children. It’s a parents job to care for their children.
loading...
All I can say is…wow! I am shocked that there are still people like you around. Absolutely appalling.
loading...
I suggest you all look at the work of Stella Young. Disabled people are not here for our inspiration or to change our outlook on life.
loading...
No one is saying that they are here to change our outlook on life! The post is about a father doing what he can for his daughter.
loading...
the thing is, who are YOU to judge what their life is like or how it is going to be when they get a bit older? i believe it’s our job as a society to bring out the best in every child, whether they are neurotypical or have a disability. that’s what therapy and early intervention services exist for. so if you have an accident anonymous, or a stroke, and can’t speak, well, we as a society should do nothing about it- we should judge that you are not worth anything and can’t contribute, so we should decide to end your life? we can’t know the potential of a person and can never ever prevent that we can predict this.
loading...
argh, can’t edit- meant to say we can’t event PRETEND that we can predict this (note prevent).
loading...
sorry that last comment for for claire- i can’t seem to see my comment anyway, or edit or like today, again.
loading...
I didnt mean to like clairs post
loading...
Your attitude is disgusting. My son has CP and does not have a “pathetic” quality of life. I actually feel sorry for any child unlucky enough to have you as a mother, as its obvious the term unconditional love is only applicable if they are “normal”.
loading...
Claire, if I were at a dinner party with you I’d call you the biggest a@”*# hole in the universe and then leave! Quite happy never to be invited back.
loading...
I love you guys but please ease up on telling us what to feel. Great story but I don’t need tissues. Same with stories like FUNNY SAD HAPPY AWESOME.
If you title the headline right the tone of the content will speak for itself, if you are trying to communicate to readers to help them find the right kind of story they feel like reading. “Hero Dad Goes The Extra Mile” would indicate teary heartwarming story.
You don’t need to tell the reader what to think. And too many of the FUNNY ones don’t move beyond mildly amusing. If you are shouting FUNNY at me and don’t deliver….
It is mildly irritating. The tech issues I can live with!
loading...
I love your title…
loading...
I cant “like”any posts this week so I just want to say I agree 100%.
loading...
Totally agree. ‘Funny’ gives me huge expectations and while the posts are amusing I’ve never laughed out loud. And I definitely didn’t need tissues.
loading...
Sugar Honey Ice Tea- im sorry but it was better then actually swearing- anyways if you read the comments first please do wat the warning tells you to do, my eyes are now running waterfalls and my room is a pool, im kinden bout the pool but the waterfall, so true as i am righting this i am crying so hard, OMG, their dad is so stronge, i think i would never be better then this guy!!!! Guys i think im in love- not be serious- but you know wat i mean i think half of everyone that have read this is in love, because of his courage he has for his daughter!!!!
loading...
Wow that’s such a lovely story. As the Mother of a child with a medical condition I know how it feels to want to do anything you can for them. What an amazing Father!! Beautiful beautiful story, thank you for posting!
loading...
You are amazing Rick, your children are truly blessed to have such a Dad.
loading...
I heard this on the radio in the car on the way home…. to say I am moved is an understatement…. I have a sore back and I dont go to the gym…. this Father needs a reward….. for humanity.. for being a loving father…. or for absolute heroism…..
loading...
An inspiration for sure. Just wondering though if there was some cutting and pasting in the dad’s writing as it seemed to be missing sentences?
loading...
Hi everyone,
Our spam filter has gone into serious overdrive today and it driving us a little batty. We’re finding and restoring your comments as soon as we can and we WILL get to them all, I promise. Please be patient if your comment doesn’t appear immediately the way it usually would.
Jamila
loading...
That’s true love. You are my idea of a real man, Rick. Great stuff.
loading...
…and this guy would be moved away from children on planes also.
loading...
yes he would & I doubt it would worry him in the least cause there are bigger issues in life that he deals with on a day to day basis
loading...
really.. that’s what you typed.
loading...
As the mum of two kids on the autism spectrum (Aspergers) I understand how the depth of love you feel for your childs struggles can cut through all manner of selfishness. Your deepest fear is always, what will happen when I die? Who will love and protect them like I do? It pushes you to fight injustice and raise awareness with all your energy in the desperate hope you will leave the planet a kinder place for your children to be.
loading...
Oh wow – what an inspiring father!
It really puts that couple who left their 6wk old child on the footpath a couple of weeks ago to shame.
loading...
I’m having a crap day. Until now. I feel so blessed. My day isn’t that bad and I’m inspired by this story.
I’m beaming with a smile.
Thank you
loading...
This is amazing. I was born at 24 weeks – 16 weeks early, 20 years ago. One of those “miracle babies”. I used to go to a special holiday camp for disabled children. It wasn’t that I was intellectually or physically challenged, luckily I am not, but my parents thought it would good for me to spend time with other kids, regardless of their physical or intellectual abilities. I’m always reminded of how lucky I am when I meet parents of disabled children who were born at 26, 27, 28 weeks etc. What a great father. My mother always joked growing up that even though I was one of the youngest in my grade, I was by far the oldest when it came to my trimester birth week
loading...
I was born 16 weeks early – at 24 weeks.
loading...
Aw, that is lovely! I work with adults who have CP, and I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But I love hearing these stories…. Sometimes their families really do care. Awesome stuff.
loading...
So much love! I got goosebumps readin that
loading...
He is an inspiration! If you want to see more inspiring acts google Team Hoyt. A Father and Son Triathlon team. It is awesome!
loading...
Media, please don’t use the word ‘suffer’ when talking about people with disabilities, as that is your judgement. Use personal first language- person first, then disability, i.e.. a child with cerebral palsy or Maddy has cerebral palsy, not ‘suffers’.
Please see “A way with words- guidelines for the portrayal for people with a disability” brochure: http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/resources/disability/community-involvement/communication/documents/way-with-words.pdf
loading...
Absolutely agree, Angie! I work with people with disabilities and the language people use drives me crazy. Disabled toilet? Um, the toilet is not disabled, that would mean it doesn’t work. It is an accessible toilet! And calling someone a disabled child for example makes the disability their defining feature. Not true! Child who just happens to have a disability. A child first and foremost.
loading...
Agree, agree, agree….
Lives with. Survives.
loading...
Wow, what an absolute champion!
loading...
Beautiful
loading...
Wasn’t there another situation like this with a family in the US, where the son had CP and his father also competed in triathlons with him? the son was mentally normal, but could only move his head a couple of inches. He ended up getting a uni degree and everything just by communicating through a computer that spelt out the letter for him when he moved.
He said to his father, something along the lines of “when we compete I feel completely free” – Saw this in a documentary at school a while back and felt completely humbled.
The kids are great, but my word, the fathers are heros.
loading...
Wasn’t there another situation like this, in the US where the father had a son who was mentally normal, but physically could only move his head a few inches? The son ended up getting a uni degree and everything by communicating through computers etc- and he did triathlons with his father in the same way Maddy does.
The kids are great, but my word, the fathers of these children are heros.
loading...
And women bemoan there are no good men n the world.
loading...
It’s great he quit smoking and she’s had such a positive impact on his life choices. I’m not sure what about this story would make you cry though.
loading...
Happy tears!
loading...
Oh My, what a legend and inspiration. Puts it all in perspective really! Thanks for sharing.
loading...