Inspired runner forms My Team Triumph

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - People find inspiration in different ways. Through a sermon, a story, a smile. When they do find it, when they are truly inspired, they often find their calling.

For Terence Reuben, it happened after he finished an Ironman competition.

"Back in '09, I had just done an Ironman the year before and had seen a bunch of people do races for other people, raise funds, raise awareness," he told 24 Hour News 8. "And I was just there for me."

He found his inspiration in the selfless acts of others. He was also inspired by the story of Dick and Rick Hoyt, the father-son race team that had been completing some of the world's most difficult endurance races.

"I'm a physical therapist, so I work with people with disabilities," Reuben said. "I'm an athlete. I've been doing races for many years. So I put two and two together and try to make it something that goes beyond me."

After brainstorming with friends, My Team Triumph was formed. In just a few years, My Team Triumph now has 10 chapters nationwide.

The organization pairs disabled athletes -- called captains -- with a team of able bodied runners -- called angels who will push the chair through the rigors of an entire course. Now people with disabilities, both children and adults, are finishing races they never would have been able to start.

"I've done probably 10 races" with My Team Triumph, Reuben said. "Not a race goes by I get to the end and I've got to shed a tear. It's so emotional at that point."

One of the disabled athletes, Johnny Agar, said My Team Triumph is "a great bunch of people. They're making sure you're having the best time possible. Really quite amazing."

It's no problem, Reuben said.

"Part of me almost feels bad that I'm getting something out of this because you start off wanting to do something for someone else. Then you cross the line and you see the faces, you'll see the smile, you'll see the emotion. That, right there, is the ticket."

Fr. Mark Peacock of St. Patrick's in Parnell found his inspiration in the tales of Johnny Agar's adventures and his smile when he shares them. So he challenged his congregation and began recruiting angels for this year's Fifth Third River Bank Run.

At last count, seven members of St. Patrick's committed to My Team Triumph.

"People just want to help," Fr. Mark said, "to help people grow mentally, physically and spiritually. I believe God wants us to be as whole as possible."

These angels don't need wings to make a captain's hear soar, just tennis shoes and a willing heart.

"I spoke to someone who said, 'You know what? When I have the time, when my schedule opens, I want to do this,'" Reuben said. "I said, 'You know what? We don't know how much time our captains have. How can we just say, wait? Let's make it happen. Let's make it happen right now.'"