From an early age, Travis found his passion in the sport of hockey. He dreamed of one day playing Division I college hockey, and by his senior year in high school, he had his choice of scholarships to any of the top college hockey programs in the country. Travis chose to play for the defending national champion Boston University Terriers. On October 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.
In the 15 years since Travis’ accident he has overcome many challenges. Ten months after his accident he 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 $3 million to improve the lives of spinal cord injury survivors and fund medical research.
Travis is now a highly regarded speaker for a variety of audiences, including corporations, universities and health professionals. The topic of his presentation revolves around the following theme: “There are times in our life when we choose our challenges, and other times when the challenges simply choose us, it is what we do in the face of those challenges that defines who we are, and more importantly, who we can and will become.”
See video of Travis’ presentation below.
By sharing his story and lifelong dream of becoming a Division I college athlete, Travis conveys firsthand the determination and emotional high of overcoming a self-imposed challenge. Travis then shares the experience of having his dream ripped away and the reevaluation of his goals to face the challenge that ultimately chose him. His story is an inspiration to audiences of all ages, and the lessons he conveys can be applied to all areas of life.
For more information about Travis’ presentation and to explore the possibility of him speaking at your event, please contact Blue Sky at 781.421.3025.
