Travis Roy: 'the difference 11 seconds can make'

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Published: Tuesday, 11 October 2016 23:13

Students at Winamac Community High School and employees at BraunAbility learned about the difference 11 seconds can make in a person's life

Guest speaker Travis Roy spoke to both groups Friday (Oct. 7) at the invitation of BraunAbility.

Roy is an accomplished speaker, advocate,  fundraiser and a longtime BraunAbility customer. His life changed when he was paralyzed from the shoulders down 11 seconds into his first collegiate hockey game.

That moment changed Travis’s life, but not his determination to live with purpose. He spoke to BraunAbility employees Friday morning, and then addressed WCHS students that afternoon.

From an early age, Travis Roy found his passion in the sport of hockey. He dreamed of one day playing Division I college hockey, and even having his shot at the NHL and the Olympics.  By his senior year in high school, Travis had his choice of scholarships to any of the top college hockey programs in the country. In the end, he chose to play for the defending national champion Boston University Terriers.  

On Oct. 20, 1995, with his family and friends in the stands, he took to the ice for his first shift. Eleven seconds after the puck dropped, Travis found himself lying face down on the ice, unable to move or feel a thing. Within seconds he not only knew he was paralyzed, but that life as he knew it was over. 

WCHS cross country runner Hannah Scott (second from left), who is legally blind was presented the Ralph W. Braun Spirit of Ability Award at the assembly. With her is her running partner Glen Bailey (left), her parents and Travis Roy (front).

In the 14 years since Travis’ accident, he has overcome many challenges. Ten months after his accident Travis returned to Boston University, and four years later he graduated with a degree in communications.  He wrote the book, Eleven Seconds, A Story of Tragedy, Courage, and Triumph, and also founded the Travis Roy Foundation, which has raised over $4.5 million to improve the lives of spinal cord injury survivors and fund medical research.

BraunAbility notes that no one is immune to the adversity life hands us, and each of us must figure out a plan to face it. The company brought Roy to Winamac to speak to employees and school students about overcoming life’s challenges and adversities. His story was recently shared on ESPN’s E:60, and that clip was shared as a preview to his presentations.