Nearly 20 years after a paralyzing hockey injury at BU, Travis Roy ‘humbled’ by support

By Steve Silva @stevesilva

June 22, 2015

2 minutes to read

He’s a reminder to all of us that life can change in an instant.

Travis Roy was a 20-year old freshman hockey player at Boston University taking the ice for his first shift as a Terrier on October 20, 1995. Roy’s world changed forever 11 seconds later when he slid head-first into the boards, cracking his fourth vertebra, after checking a North Dakota player in BU’s season opener at Walter Brown Arena.

Since the injury, Roy never regained feeling below the middle of his chest and can only control the joystick that moves his wheelchair.

Today, Roy leads a life of purpose, having founded the Travis Roy Foundation, which is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with spinal cord injuries and funding research. Roy also serves as a motivational speaker, reaching thousands with his message of not dwelling on misfortune.

“I’ve always been hopeful I would walk someday,’’ Roy told WBZ NewsRadio’s Adam Kaufman in the week leading up to the event. “I don’t know if that’s going to happen, I’m still hopeful. If I could move my hands, move my arms, get myself in and out of bed and be independent and not need the 24 hours of care, that’s the other drive. To me, 20 years ago that wouldn’t have been good enough. But I’m a little wiser, and if you could provide me with full independence, that would change the lives of a lot of people dealing with spinal cord injuries.’’

On Saturday at BU’s New Balance Field, Roy watched 18 teams go head to head in the 5th annual Boston Wiffle Ball Challenge to support Roy’s foundation and the Franciscan Children’s Hospital for Children which provides care and treatment to more than 10,000 children with a wide range of physical, medical, and behavioral challenges.

“It’s been 20 years since my injury this coming October, so I’ve been doing this a long time,’’ Roy told Boston.com. “And the fact that people continue to come out and support the foundation, to support me, it’s humbling, I will say that.’’

Roy was thankful that people took time out on a summer Saturday to participate in the event.

“It’s just a fun fundraiser,’’ Roy said. “I know people say ‘they put the fun back in fundraiser’ and this is one of those. Nobody’s sitting around a big gala dinner, nobody’s waiting for speeches, people are out being active.’’

Former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, BU hockey star Jack Eichel, and Boston funnyman Lenny Clarke also lent a hand to the charitable event.

“This is amazing,’’ Clarke said. “This has gotten so big. We used to play at Tim Wakefield’s field at the hospital, but we’ve got so many teams and so many people that want to raise money. Now we’re at New Balance Field and we have the Beanpot of Whiffle ball, Havard, BC, BU, Northeastern – they’re all here, anyone can participate.’’

For the past four years, the Franciscan Hospital for Children and the Travis Roy Foundation have joined forces to host the Boston Whiffle Ball Challenge. Saturday’s event raised $100,000 that will support both causes.