Jeff Hobbs - Biography

Jeff Hobbs was born three months premature, and as a result, has cerebral palsy (CP). Jeff weighed 2.5 lbs at birth and was in the hospital for two months before being allowed to go home.

The type of CP Jeff has is spastic CP, which produces tight muscles. It is caused by the brain’s failure to send the proper signals to the muscles of different parts of the body, causing rigid muscles and restricted movements.

Since the age of 16 months Jeff has undergone years filled with occupational, speech, and physical therapy. Until 15 years of age, Jeff would commute 40 minutes one-way, two to three times a week, to visit his physical therapist.

Jeff credits a lot of his current abilities to Easter Seals, a rehabilitation center for children with disabilities. They taught him everything from basic skills such as walking, to more intense tasks such as maneuvering across all types of terrain.

Jeff has undergone many surgeries including having his Achilles, hamstrings, and quads lengthened, as well as, being put in a body cast for a few weeks after having his groin muscles cut to reduce spasticity.

The purpose of these operations was to improve flexibility and mobility. This would help Jeff become more functional and to perform everyday tasks with less difficulty.

Jeff has always had a passion for sports. From a young age, he has watched his favorite sport’s teams both on television and in person. As a result, he has always longed to be a part of the action. Unfortunately, this was not always possible.

Jeff participated in Little League baseball. The coaches pitched the first year. Once the kids began to pitch, the Little League committee thought it would be too much of a risk, both for Jeff and for them, to allow him to continue to participate. As a result, Jeff "managed." The committee required Jeff to wear a Little League helmet when he was the first or third base line "coach."

Throughout grade school Jeff continued to "manage" the Little League baseball teams. In junior high, Jeff became the "manager" of the junior high baseball teams.

Upon entering high school, Jeff was tired of managing and finally saw his opportunity to compete in sports like he had always wanted. It was the freshman football team from which no one had ever been cut. Jeff went to summer conditioning camp and upon completion was told he could not receive his helmet and pads without a doctor's note stating that he was able to participate in the sport. Once again, Jeff became the team manager.

Despite the devastation of being shunned from the freshman football team and Little League baseball, Jeff continued to work out daily. He was hoping the football coach would see the hard work he was putting in and ask him to be on the team.

The fall of his junior year, a coach did notice his hard work and dedication, but it was not the football coach. Dennis Best, head coach of the cross country and track team at Coal City High School in Illinois, asked Jeff if he had ever considered running cross country. Without a second thought, Jeff agreed to join the team.

At Jeff’s first meet, his goals were to start the race, finish the race, and never stop running until he crossed the finish line. Although he fell three times, he picked himself up and continued on the 3.1-mile course to cross the finish line, earning the respect of all the onlookers.

The following year, Cross Country State Champion, Ryan Young, was so inspired by Jeff’s performance that he gave Jeff his first place medal. This took place at the same course location of Jeff’s first meet.

Since then, Jeff has successfully competed at the NAIA level of both cross country and track competition. Jeff graduated in May 2004 from The Franciscan University, formerly Mount Saint Clare College in Clinton, Iowa.

Jeff has made and achieved a lot of goals in his life. One of his next goals is to compete in the 2005 Chicago Marathon someday in the near future. Jeff wants to continue to break down barriers and prove to others that it is possible to achieve any goal, regardless of unfavorable odds.

Jeff intends to use his experiences to inspire others to achieve their highest potentials. He hopes to someday be a cross country and track coach and continuing a motivational speaking career.