Ben Jackson, Athlete With Cerebral Palsy, Shows That Disability Shouldn't Hold Anyone Back From Their Dream
Gatorade has an eye for athletes who persevere, even in the face of extreme physical and mental limitations. So it should come as no surprise — but tons of inspiration — that the sports drink company would feature the story of high school wrestler and weightlifting hopeful Ben Jackson in a commercial for its #WinFromWithin campaign. The campaign aims to inspire all athletes to find the strength within themselves to succeed. “Nothing you put on” is enough; it’s up to you, “and what’s inside you,” another one of the company’s ads says.
But what’s so special about Jackson? He has cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects a person’s ability to control their muscles. By all accounts, Jackson should have been in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The condition causes Jackson to experience spasms in everything from his legs to his feet. He walks awkwardly, and it’s sometimes difficult for him to speak, but he’s also defied so many odds.
Despite losing all 25 matches in his first year of wrestling, he pushed forward, knowing that with each match, he was lasting longer. In his second year wrestling, he was the best. Now, he’s working on competing in weightlifting at the international level. “What makes me different is not the physical; that you can see. What makes me different is what’s inside of my heart,” he says in the commercial. “Although you have something holding you back in life, although you have a burden that may be pulling you down, it’s never an option to ever quit.”
Well Ben, here’s a tip of the hat to you.