Jason a 26 year old close friend of mine was on my heart this last week,. My day was a bit crazy so I tried to ignore the voice in my head telling me to call him!  Moments later  I dialed the phone, Jason what's up? I could hear in his voice the presence of doom and dispair. This is one of those times  when you do whatever it takes to be with your friend, so I encouraged him to meet me in my office. The following story we wrote together on that very day, Wow! and i almost let it slip by…

Hope is a bright shining light which keeps darkness at bay, Hope is the gentle cold breeze on a hot summer day…

My mentor Ron, 30 years ago was an all-star football player, dreams of the NFL, 6 ft 3 in 205 lbs of pure muscle, couldn’t be stopped. Girl friends, cool cars, fast motorcycles, popular, good looking, had everything in life going for him. Then he decided to go surfing the day before his 18th birthday, looking out into the California Ocean he saw a wave crashing in, feeling invincible, he said to himself that’s my wave! He ran, dove into the wave and hit his head on a sandbar, his neck went back into his shoulder blades and (cressh), body went limp… floating motionless out to sea he prayed “ God I'm too young to die.”…….

Hope comes when you least expect it

Ladies and gentlemen, 3 weeks ago I had everything. The most beautiful and amazing woman I have ever meet and we’re getting married on Aug 1st. A month long honeymoon in Australia planned. First year in toastmasters and I'm in the world championships. 100K a year job offer on the table at the age of 26. Paid speaking gigs in negotiation. I had two jobs. Lots of friends, I'm physically fit and of course I’m cute!… well that's what mama always told me…

Friends I had everything… 2 weeks before the wedding day, everything planned and paid for, my fiancé comes to my apt one day, looking absolutely stunning then I looked into her eyes, I could see something was wrong… “Baby, she says, I can’t go through with this…”  My legs went weak and I dropped to my knees. Tears pouring down my cheeks. The world had just collapsed. My heart was sick, I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat. I turned down the job offer. Told 400 people the wedding was off, and cancelled my World Championship Speech. I didn’t care about anything anymore. I lost all my hope for the future. My heart hit the sandbar of life, and I felt paralyzed floating motionless into the sea of despair…

Hope comes when you least expect it and when you most need it…

I get a call from my friend Ron he says, come on over I’d like to have a word with you. When I got to his house I fell on the floor, tears in my eyes I said, it hurts so bad I don’t know if I can make it through. He said I’ve got a story for you man… “When I was floating out into the ocean my little brother swam in and saved my paralyzed body from drowning. At that point I had lost it all. Parlayed from the neck down my hopes and dreams were shattered. Then one day I meet a young man His head and body strapped to a wheelchair.

I said to this kid, hey how you doing man, my names Ron what your name? He sat there motionless, drool coming out of his mouth, tubes in his neck, breathing through machines – cuuugh-… His mom standing behind him spoke up, his name’s Kevin. Looking into Kevin’s eyes, and I saw so much life. I said, how bad is it Kevin? His mom replied, he’s was paralyzed from the noise down at birth. Never tasted a candy bar, never drank a coke, never told his mom he loves her. Instantly my attitude changed, I said to his mom, what’s the one the he’s always wanted to do… I'm gonna make it happen. Go to Disneyland? You tell me what Kevin dreams of. She looked at me and said, the one thing Kevin wishes he could do, is smile…how much is that worth…?

Hope comes when you least expect it, and when you most need it, and often times from an unexpected source…

I sat up after the story, wiping the tears from my eyes, and said. So hope comes to us, when we reach out and give out. Ron looked at me and said, “Jason, never underestimate the power you have to change somebody's life.” I jumped up off the ground, got onto a computer and along with Ron I wrote this very speech. I called the governor of our toastmasters district, Kathy, and said, can I still speak? She said, you betcha you can!. 

There’s a great hope in life, and it’s not in football, or relationships or weddings, it’s not in honeymoons, or Australia, money or a new job,   fancy cars or even the American dream. Real hope is found in the heart, and it comes out, when we give it out. Even if it's just a smile. The apostle Paul, wrote these words from inside prison walls… “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Friends who’s waiting for you to bring a little hope into their life? Are you willing to give out, a little hope? Hope comes when we least expect it, and when we most need it, there's someone in your life waiting to receive it. Ladies and gentlemen, give a little hope. My hope, is that I gave you hope, and that makes me… smile

Thought from roll on Ron:

Friends, I encourage you to take some time to write down your story today.

We all have a unique story that can help somebody through the tough times… not to mention what putting it on paper could do for you.

Now roll on and make it a good day, your life truly matters!

JOIN MY QUAD SQUAD TEAM TODAY FOR AS LITTLE AS $5 A MONTH AND I'LL SEND YOU A FREE SMILIEY PAL ON WHEELS  HELP ME PASS A SMILE ON! 

Blessings,

Ron Heagy

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I want the hope rod to be the vehicial that brings inspiration to the world that even when things are bad we can find a way to overcome the impossible.

The Columbian recent wrote an article about my quest, click here to see the story: http://www.columbian.com/article/20090604/NEWS02/706049946

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I am a never give up Person

I will be strong to the finish

Read the Creed daily and Succeed

The Creed

1.) I believe my life has purpose and value.
2.) I will pursue my purpose daily.
3.) I will set my goals and not allow the negativity of others to distract me in achieving them.
4.) I am the master of my attitude.
5.) Today I choose to be positive.
6.) I will love life and press on in the midst of my struggles.
7.) I believe I can therefore I will.
8.) I will tap my full potential and with the help of others we will reach dreams that on our own are not possible.
9.) I will be strong to the finish, I will never give up.
10.) In the end when I lay my head down, I will rest in peace, because I have faith, hope and love.

I believe in You… You are loved,
Ron Heagy Jr.
www.rollonron.com

_________________________ __________
Your name Date

*If you have Friends that would like to be on my mailing list send me their e-mail or feel free to pass this along.

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The proverbs say “a good word is medicine to the heart.”

After watching the news, looking at the bills I couldn’t pay, and realizing my future income was in decay I went to bed feeling a bit down (ok, a lot down).

As I finally drifted off to sleep questions like “Why do we have to face so many trials, and can’t I just have a time of rest?” went through my head. I work hard when will it pay off?

When I woke up the next day my caregiver turned on the radio I listened to positive encouraging messages, the course of one particular song said “there is a light at the end of the tunnel for me, for me.”

I don’t know why it made such an impact but it’s true. There is always a ray of hope, a light of truth in the mist of dark circumstance.

So, what was I going to do about my ray of hope? Well if you know me I will create some crazy idea. “Hence comith forth the conception of the HOPE ROD.”

On the weekend of June 14th I will be the first man paralyzed from the neck down to drive a car with only the use of his teeth.

I have dreamed of driving a car again and for 29 years I have searched for the technology that would enable me to do so… I have found it.

Thanks to David, owner of Dignified Motors in Phoenix, AZ and his team I now have a car with the technology to drive.

The car is a 1968 Firebird. The owner Ron Philips has given me the use of his car in order to accomplish this incredible task.

Ron and Michael Peters have developed The Quad Squad, a group of people that are working together to make this all possible. Please join The Quad Squad by going to www.thequadsquad.net. You could even buy a t-shirt and become a piece of this historical event.

The purpose of the hope rod is to bring hope to the wounded, the hurting, and the broken spirits. This car will be the Vehicle to bring my message of inspiration and enthusiasm to the world. Instead of feeling sorry for my own circumstance I decided to help others see a positive light in the mist of their problems.

There is hope; you do not have to give up. Take that ray of hope today and turn it into sun shine. Let’s get off our behinds and do something even if it is small. And in the end this will change the world, YOU have the power to change the world, your life counts, you have a purpose.

Thank you for allowing me to share my life with you. Please e-mail me back at office@ronheagy.com or visit my website at www.rollonron.com or www.thequadsquad.net.

If you know anyone who would be interested in having me speak please contact us.

Our schedule is:

Green Bay, Wisconsin April 13th-22nd
Las Vegas, Nevada April 24th-26th
Phoenix, Arizona April 27th-May 6th
Calgary, Canada May 11th-20th
Denver, Colorado June 27th-July 7th

Ron Heagy – Never Give Up

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Hi friend, it’s Ron Heagy.  The reason for this email is that I’m looking for connections for speaking opportunities in the Phoenix Arizona area with Schools, Churches and Businesses.  I will be in Arizona from February 17^th through the 26^th.  I will again be in Arizona April 27^th through May 6^th.  Please see the following proposal….it will make you smile!! 

    June 8, 2008HiI wanted to share this new crazy idea with you, in case you are able to help or if you know of some people that can help make it possible.    I have been on a “ride” for the past 28 years in my wheelchair but I have not had the true impact on our country and youth that I feel God wants me to have.   I have tried to get on some National TV shows to provide hope and inspiration, but I have found that simply typing with a stick in my teeth, graduating college, getting a Master’s degree, becoming a mouth painter, building a camp for disabled children, speaking to wounded soldiers, speaking to almost 3,000,000 kids who have said “thank you for saving my life!”, authoring two books and even getting married and having a “miracle baby” is just not news worthy.  My new idea is to take America on a whole different “ride” to get their attention.   We have kept this idea quiet until we got everything in place but now, as my friend, I am giving you the “green light” to share this idea with anyone you know who may want to help.  The “green light” is a great introduction, because when the light turns green, I will be behind the wheel of a restored classic hot rod!!   I will be the very first COMPLETE quadriplegic to drive a car at least 100 mph with just the movement of my head.  I already have the car donated and I have top engineers working on a way for me to drive it.  My main objective is to bring “hope to the wounded.”  The soldiers returning from Iraq, people with disabilities, and teenagers all need inspiration, motivation, and positive role models.       One of my marketing ideas is to use the phrase from the hit song “I can’t drive 55” and I challenge it by saying; “WHO SAYS I CAN’T?”  In fact, I will DOUBLE it!!  Imagine the headlines: “Quad Drives Rod- over 100mph”!   Other ‘quads’ can drive because they have some movement in their arms/limbs, but I will be the first COMPLETE Quad to drive with just my head.  I even guarantee a tire smokin burnout!!      In my lifetime, I have dealt with many people who have said:  “Ron you CAN’T do that,” but I believe that with God ALL things are possible.  ·        When the doctors said: “You can’t breathe without a ventilator tube”.   I did. ·        Schools told me I could never go to college by typing with a stick in my teeth. I did.·        “You can never paint with a brush in your mouth.”   I did.  ·        “You will never get a Masters degree.  I did.  ·        “You can’t build a camp for disabled kids, you don’t have any money.”  We did.·        “You can’t write a book.”  They were right… I wrote TWO of them!  J  ·        “No one will marry you in that chair.”  She did!  J  ·        Doctors said, “You will never have a baby.”     We did!  J   Our immediate financial need is for $25,000 to continue to get the car updated.  I am asking you to consider joining my Quad Squad team and any amount that you could help with would be a blessing to help us finish the “hope rod”.    I also plan on seeking major sponsorships from corporations and I envision national exposure on shows such as DISCOVERY CHANNEL, MTV and THE LEARNING CHANNEL which will bring great recognition to our sponsors.  In summary, life is about choices.  Instead of just “stepping out in faith”, I am choosing to “roll onto the track.”  I hope that you will choose to come along for the ride and be part my team so that together we can say…..   “WE did it!”  JI will be happy to share more of the details with you.  Please call me personally with your thoughts on my cell at 541-990-7411.  Thank you again for your prayers and support!   With love and blessings~RonRon Heagy Jr.   PS   If you have connections that we can network with, please let me know.    

I will be in Arizona for the purpose of learning to drive a ’68 Firebird Hot Rot.  I will be the first “quad” to drive with just the use of my head.  This is turning into a major media Human Interest story.  The 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th of February I will be with the car to get the technology wrapped around my head to try to get the hang of all this.  Anyone who might have an HD camera to get footage of me getting fitted into this car would also be greatly appreciated.  I’m really hoping to document the whole thing from beginning to end.  Please contact me if you are interested in seeing me drive again after 29 years.

Thanks again,

Ron  

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It is people like you that make it possible for Kelli, Gracie and I to hit the road and to keep rolling on.

There are so many things to tell you,  it would be impossible to tell you all of them. I know one thing for sure that God loves you and has a purpose and a plan for your life. My life is definitely a reminder that God can use the “weakest” member of society, to accomplish great things.

If you have heard me speak you know that I believe that our lives are hinged, by the attitudes we choose.

Today is your day to begin anew to turn loses into gains, heartache to laughter, pain for persistence and a smile to boot!

If you can do it, then together we can accomplish great things. I believe in you, and I know you believe in me.

The following quote is from a girl who heard me speak 5 yrs. ago.

“I was up late last night, and my mind began to worry and fret about all the things in my life. I wanted something positive in my life to show me that there is still hope. And for some reason, don’t ask me why, I went to my closet, opened the door and looked up. There on the shelf was the smiley face, plush toy that you signed for me. I immediately remembered things that you had said 5 yrs earlier, that Life is an Attitude and we should never give up. I couldn’t believe I remembered that, especially when I cannot even remember what I ate yesterday. Thank you all you do and for reminding me for all these years, that there is something positive to live for.”

As Kelli read this to me, late one night in our living room, after a financially challenging day, I started to tear up and said to my wife, “This is why we do what we do, even when it gets hard.”

I hope the story inspires you as much as it does me. Never underestimate the power you have to change and possibly save another person’s life. I challenge you in the midst of the world’s chaos, from the political propaganda and your own daily struggles, to remember that your own life counts.

So when you get up tomorrow, ask God for wisdom, and go change the world. Because? YOU CAN! In closing, I want you to know that Kelli, Gracie and I have had a wonderful year. We have been all over the United States and have recently returned from London. Where I gave 16 speeches to thousands of people. Lives are in need of hopeful messages everywhere. Keep praying for us, specifically for health, necessary to maintain stamina for living on the road, for financial support to keep the wheels rolling, patience for my wife so she can deal with my out of control creative brain.

FYI Kelli’s Birthday is December 19th. She will be 28. Opps maybe ten years older. She and I just celebrated our 5th year anniversary at a restaurant, in the tower of London, overlooking the London Bridge.

Gracie will be 4 on January 14th and continues to be daddy’s little Cinderella. She is such a wonderful traveler.

Jessi turned 15, and is becoming a beautiful woman. Not to mention a wonderful singer.

Mattie is 10 and continues to have a bubbly personality, she makes friends with everybody.

Roni will be 9 in January. She is involved with many sports. Her favorite is dance.

My grandma, Ruth Heagy, turned 90 last month and all 45 of her children, grand children, great grand children celebrated it with her. I remain to be her favorite grandson.

We celebrated my mother’s first birthday since she has gone to be with the Lord. It is so hard not having her here. I miss her very much. Please pray for my dad, Ron Sr., after 50yrs you can imagine how lonely he is.

Many of my friends have asked how they can help. I say please “support the ministry”, Never Give Up.

They respond, no, “How do we help you and your family?” The truth is my medical needs are extreme and there are a lot of costs associated to being in a wheelchair and needing 24 hour care. Kelli does so much, going beyond the call of duty most of the time, but she can’t do it all. 

Therefore in response to the question, “How do we help you?” we have established a tax deductable fund where you can make donations that directly help us with medical needs.

Your donations will be held in the National Transplant Assistance Fund(NTAF), and can be distributed to us from there to cover medical expenses. NTAF is well organized and has helped people for many years raise funds for medical expenses after a catastrophic injury. 

If you are interested in making a donation to help us directly, simply make checks payable to NTAF, and mail them to us at PO Box 972 Albany, OR 97321. Or go on to www.transplantfund.org to make a credit card donation.

All donations are tax deductable and are strictly maintained. You will recieve a reciept for your donation from NTAF.

On another note…don’t forget to do your Christmas shopping on my website www.rollonron.com  My new smiley faces make great stocking stuffers and/or Christmas tree ornaments. (The new design has wheels instead of legs.)

Again words cannot express my appreciation for friends like you. Thanks for all you do and remember you are special so it is a good day to smile.

With much love and gratitude,

Ron, Kelli and Family.

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I have done some crazy things in my life but this has got to be the coolest idea of them all!

Check it out… I will be the first complete quad to drive a 68 hot firebird classic car with just the use of my head, that’s right “look mom no hands.”  Imagine the headlines,  “quad drives rod over 100 mph with just the use of his head.”

Come along for the ride! Be a member of the “quad squad” click here for a view of the Ron Heagy ride…  Help me make history and do something that has never been done before.

Our goal is to use the national exposure to bring  a message of Hope to the wounded!

Check out http://www.thequadsquad.net

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