Devoted Dad Carries Severely Disabled Daughter As He Competes In Triathlons, Because She Loves Being Outside
Aug. 15 2012, Published 9:04 a.m. ET
By Debbie Emery - Breaking Celebrity News Reporter
It's a simple, yet beautiful, story of a father's love for his daughter.
A devoted dad has taken hands-on parenting to a whole new level by carrying his 13-year-old cerebral palsy-afflicted daughter with him on already-grueling triathlons.
Rick Van Beek of Byron Center, Michigan, is an unbeatable team when he runs with his daughter Maddy in his arms or pushing her in her stroller in the over 75 races that he's competed in since 2008, reported the New York Daily News.
Finishing first doesn't matter to the man who has been dubbed Father of the Year.
“I’ve never been disappointed crossing the finish line because I’m doing it with my daughter," he said.
A triathlon includes running, swimming and biking sections, but Van Beek doesn't let the different challenges get in the way of his father-daughter bonding.
During the swimming portion of the triathlon, Van Beek tows Maddy in a kayak. He then scoops up his girl, who weighs about 80 pounds and carries her to the biking leg, where he hitches up a special cart that he built for her to ride in.
“The hardest part for me is the transition from the swim to the bike because I carry her,” the 39-year-old explained. “She has a fused spine, so it’s like carrying a board.”
Their latest achievement came on Sunday when "Team Maddy" competed in the Sanford and Sun triathlon/duathlon and endured horrendous rain that a