The University of North Georgia's Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted an "Ultra-Run" fundraiser in support of James Hearn, a wheelchair-bound man with cerebral palsy, on Saturday
In an interview with AccessWDUN, Josh Haymore, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Director at the University of North Georgia, explained how he first met Hearn and how their relationship has grown.
"[James and I] first met at a nonprofit called 'Connectability' in Dahlonega, and I was his buddy for the day. James has cerebral palsy. He's as sharp as a tack. He's published a book of poems, [and] he's on his second book, now being published. He just doesn't have any functionality to feed himself and take care of himself, so he lives at a place called Chelsea Park rehabilitation center in Dahlonega. He was put in my life for a reason, just to serve him as a brother in Christ. I truly believe the Lord put him in my life to just keep me humble." We were like, 'Man, it'd be wild if we did 100 miles with James.' So we asked James about it, and he was like, 'Absolutely, I'd love to do it,'" said Haymore. "We've always done races together and just hung out, and we've done 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, marathons, and we did an Ironman together a few years ago in Augusta. [So] here we are, tackling 100 miles on a one-mile loop at the Gainesville campus of North Georgia College."
Haymore went on to expand on how "Team Hearn" began and how they decided to take on the challenge of the marathon.
"Me and my brother-in-law, Gunner Wood, and Jeffrey Pruitt, we call ourselves Team Hearn [for James Hearn]. We were like, 'Man, it'd be wild if we, if we did 100 miles with James.' So we asked James about it, and he was like, 'Absolutely, I'd love to do it,'" said Haymore. "We've always done races together and just hung out, and we've done 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, marathons, and we did an Ironman together a few years ago in Augusta. [So] here we are, tackling 100 miles on a one-mile loop at the Gainesville campus of North Georgia College."
The race took place on a one-mile loop on the interior perimeter of UNG's Gainesville campus, after Haymore and the FCA worked with the university to shut down the area for the event.
"We put our heads together, and being a registered student organization with the college, I reached out to the Gainesville campus. They helped me get this race together," said Haymore. "If everything goes well, we're not going to have any breaks. We're going to be moving the whole time. If we do need breaks, we've got two spots built in for, like, shoe changes and stuff, and then to get James, like a quick lunch and dinner. But for the most part...that's kind of the game plan we got going."
Haymore and UNG's FCA worked with Hearn to make sure his dream was realized.
"He's just an amazing guy [who] never complains. This guy's sitting in a rehabilitation home. He's got to have people take care of him, and he never complains. He's a believer in Jesus, and he wants to use his platform to share the gospel, and we're doing that at this race," said Haymore. "He wants to be a positive light and point people to Jesus with his disability, and he just wants to be seen as a normal man. We don't treat him like any special person. He gets treated just like my brother does. And that's his motivation behind this. He just loves feeling the wind in his hair and getting out and running with us. [He loves] just being with us, being with his family."
The race doubled as a fundraiser for the FCA. The funds raised from this event will go to the FCA chapter at UNG. All proceeds from sponsorships and race registrations are designated to support this organization and its activities on campus.
