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Show from friends. He met Christy, his wife, during this time and though they initially were just friends, their relationship deepened, and they were married in 1992. Heagy ultimately earned a master's degree in social work, but advanced degrees could not persuade potential employers to hire a man paralyzed from the neck down. As Heagy sat in a restaurant with Christy, lack his of bemoaning prospects, his former football coach stopped by the table and insisted he tell his story to the students. So I rolled in there on the gym floor and see about 300 seat almost their entire family. Believe me, we get a lot of use out of it, she says. One of their first trips was to Camp Attitude in the town of Sweet Home (pop. 8,016). Wed never been to this kind of a camp, and it was beyond my expectations, Donna King says. It was so enjoyable to see our kids enjoying themselves all our kids. We took picnics to the lake. Weve never had a vacation like this. It was just awesome. or 400 kids on the bleachers and I think, What am I doing here?' Heagy says, laughing at the memory. But I spoke, and they appreLife is An Attitude isnt just the name of their ciated it, and the school paid me 200 bucks. I said, This its a way of life in the Heagy houseorganization . wimp nraojoc ica mat w ma cninp, oespac Die could be a job. hold. Even when he's not before an audience, I leagy is He soon became a popular speaker, earning large fees for his appearances. But the forthright, and has a sense of humor he uses constantly to tease more people he met, the more needs he identified. I had a dream to be beneficial to people and amuse himself. Heagy, who smiles often, encouraging others to do the same, hands out anecmy community. I wanted to leave a legacy, do something that really counts in life. I didnt just want to go make money and have a big bank account, Heagy says. dotes and encouragement to anybody wholl listen. But he turns serious when So he and Christy founded Life is an Atticude Inc., naming it to reflea the phispeaking about the people hes helped, or wants to help, particularly children and teenagers. losophy they live each day: Attitudes determine outcomes." I can say with pride that theres never been a goal in his life that he hasn't achieved," Besides funding Camp Attitude, the organization also helps purchase elecfor kids with various challenges, so Christy says of her husband. Hes a very driven man, very tric wheelchairs and adaptive computers And though Heagy generates a large income from his speaking engagements, he they, too, can pursue their dreams and goals. Jeremy Volbeda, 17, who has a disease that causes brittle bones, credits Heagy not and his wife drive modest vehicles and live in a small house, choosing to funnel their resources both time and money into the organization. only with getting him a better wheelchair, but with helping him overcome personal fears and improve his outlook. They easily could afford to live a more expensive lifestyle, Christy says, but, He just gave me confidence, says Volbeda of Albany, Ore. I just saw all Thats not whats important to us right now. Getting the camp done, seeing those kids have fun, thats what its all about. the confidence he had even though he couldnt even open a door by himself and Each day, as the camp nears further completion, volunteers and paid professionals couldnt get around by himself without his chair. I realized I didnt have it as bad as I thought. perform the physical tasks that Ron cannot: hammering nails, pouring asphalt, Bob and Donna Kings lives also changed since meeting Heagy. After hear- installing elearicity. But it was his belief that has made this dream a reality. ing him speak at a disability conference, the Moreno Valley, Campers can enjoy a river rafting trip. With vision, dreams, determination, and enthusiasm, he Calif., couple approached him to commiserate about the joys and perils of adoption. At the time, Heagy and Christys says, you can accomplish just about anything. adoption of a baby girl had fallen through but later was restored (their daughter, Roni Christine, is now 2). Kara Carden is a regular contributor to American Profile. love would said he the our Ron to get family up to really camp he was building, says Bob King, Either of 11 children, some of whom have special needs. Donna laughed and said, 'Hey, we Ron Heagy will be featured as part of televiwould love to go, bur our van has been dead the last couple of sion series, Wisdom of Dreams, created by Marmonths.' He thought for a minute and said, Ive got a van and I tin Luther King III, to be broadcast Jan. 21 dont really use it that much; you can have it. Martin Luther King Jrs birthday on the WisI couldnt believe it, Donna King recalls. I didn't really dom Channel. understand what he meant. Who gives people a van? Who would do that?" Finally convinced his offer was real, the Kings were delighted to have a late model van with an electric lift that would High achiever |