5K honors cerebral palsy patient Shawn Greene and ‘Dream Team’

March 17 marked a dream come true for a member of Milledgeville’s Life Enrichment Center, Shawn Greene. Greene suffers physical restrictions due to cerebral palsy, yet has long-desired dreams of running in races.

On St. Patrick’s Day, members of the Life Enrichment Center, residents of Baldwin County and students of Georgia College gathered at the Oconee River Greenway to watch Greene’s dream become a reality. Over 100 runners supported the center by participating in either a one mile fun run or the 5k race during which over $1,300 was raised.

Greene’s dream was inspired by Team Hoyt, a father-son duo in which the father has pushed his son, Rick Hoyt, in his wheelchair in over 1,000 competitive running races since 1977. Due to the similarities of both a physical restrictions and a passion for running, Hoyt’s determination and accomplishments have left a profound effect on Greene and have inspired him in organizing Milledgeville’s first Greene Mile 5K and Fun Run.

Elise Ivey, a music therapist at the LEC and alumni of Georgia College, has helped make Greene’s dream become a reality by providing support for him and carrying out the plans for the event herself along with the help of junior mass communication student Sarah Hernandez.

“I never realized the impact or personal connection (Greene) would feel with Rick Hoyt,” Ivey said. “I am just thrilled he chose me to help him accomplish his dream.”

Since plans for the event began in the fall of last year, Greene has had a profound influence on every aspect of the race by approving all race details and promotional material.

Ivey, along with the center’s director Barbara Coleman, served on Greene’s Dream Team throughout the race. The team prepared for the race for several months both organizationally and physically. They ran the race together while pushing Greene towards his goal of victoriously crossing the finish line.

“Shawn reminds us all that life is not about discovering our dreams, but living out our dreams,” Coleman said.

When Greene crossed the finish line with his Dream Team, emotions were high as crowds of spectators cheered for him and his success. Coleman described Greene’s reaction as “ecstatic” and although he couldn’t verbally say it himself, everyone could see the immense amount of immediate joy on his face.

“To come across (the finish line) was an emotional high that you can’t explain,” Coleman said. “It was just like winning the Olympics. To roll him across (the finish line) was just the biggest honor of my life.”

Senior evironmental science major Jeff Brittain participated in the 5K race.

“The Greenway is such a great place to go running,” Brittain said. “I just hope they do it again next year and have an even bigger turnout.”

Ivey and her team at the center hope for next year’s race to be even more of a success as well and hope to make it a yearly tradition for Greene and his Dream Team.

“Shawn is already talking about the plans for next year,” Ivey said.