Page 76 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2018 - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
2 2

Senior Senior

Climbing

Higher

by Courtney Reed

During the summer of 2017, I had Traylor, in McCook, Nebraska. unable to complete the race. Those
the honor of attending a camp called At birth, he was diagnosed with low expectations didn’t stop him.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, or cerebral palsy, which prevented him The minute he crossed the finish
Camp RYLA. This is an organization from being able to walk properly. As line, he became a celebrity. People
that brings young adults together, a teenager, he underwent fourteen all over the country knew who Jerry
giving them the opportunity not surgeries and had to wear waist- Traylor was, and because of this, it
only to make a difference in their high braces to support his lower inspired him to encourage others.
community but also in the world. body. Because of this disability, he He continued to run marathons,
With the completion of countless was unable to participate in many being a light for others. When Jerry
service projects, these teenagers can normal childhood activities, and he turned 28, he believed that God was
understand the true meaning of longed to fit in. After outgrowing calling him to attack yet another
being a leader, while also allowing his braces, he was fitted with a pair challenge. He knew he could run
them to build multiple, long-lasting of crutches that he would have with crutches, and he wanted to
friendships. Although this is exactly to use for the rest of his life. With see if he could climb with them.
what I was able to take away from a strong, determined mind, he Having his mind set on Pike’s
attending Camp RYLA, one person refused to allow his condition to Peak, with its rugged terrain and
especially had an amazing impact keep him from pursuing his dreams. steep drops, he was determined to
on my life. Jerry Traylor is not your After leaving home, he moved to prove people wrong once again.
average person. While at Camp Colorado to attend Western State He overcame massive boulders and
RYLA, he interacted with each and College. He earned a bachelor’s difficulty breathing, but he managed
every one us, never failing to put a degree in Business Administration to reach the top. After conquering
smile on our faces. When he would and began to set personal goals for these difficult, yet breath-taking
personally talk to me, it felt as if a himself. challenges, Jerry made the decision
weight would lift off my chest. His to become an inspirational speaker
presence always lit up the room. At 24 years of age, he participated in in 1998, supporting and motivating
his very first marathon, in Denver, young teens to attack their own
The last day we were there, Jerry Colorado. This came as a surprise to challenges.
shared his moving story with us. many because they assumed, since
He was born to Tom and Marilyn he was on crutches, that he would be In 2006, he published his first

76 Lubbock Senior Link