Team Hoyt San Diego (THSD) is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of local children and adults with disabilities. We use specially designed racing wheelchairs to participate in running races with people with disabilities (5k distance, half marathon, marathon, triathlons, etc.).

We are inspired by the father and son team, Team Hoyt, from Holland, Massachusetts who compete in running events and triathlons. The son, Rick, was born in 1962 with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. This caused cerebral palsy which rendered Rick a spastic non-speaking quadriplegic. The doctors told the father, Dick, and his wife Judy to put Rick in an institution because he was going to be a “vegetable.” Dick and his wife refused, and brought Rick home and raised him like any other child.

To communicate, Rick started using an interactive computer designed by a group of skilled engineers at Tufts University. In 1977, using that computer, Rick asked his father to push him in a 5-mile race to help raise money for a local lacrosse player that was paralyzed in an accident. Dick, a non-runner, agreed. In their first race, they came in next to last place, but not last. When they got home, Rick typed, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.” That was a strong message to Dick. Since then, Dick and Rick have competed in over 1,100 races, including six Ironman triathlons and 32 Boston Marathons.

We will be having a special dinner event on Friday, March 13, 2020.  We are excited to announce that our Keynote Speaker for the evening is the 2006 winner of London Marathon, bronze medalist of 2004 Olympic Marathon and winner of 2005 Chicago Marathon, Deena Kastor. At that event we will be having a silent auction and as well as a live donation bidding. Financial support is extremely important to THSD as we rely on donations to provide services in the community, that are greatly needed.