‘He’s a superhero’ | Loveland man with cerebral palsy trains for Flying Pig race

BLUE ASH, Ohio — Pete White will get the wheelchair out of his automobile. Then, he grabs the walker.

“Do you want to go walking or ride first?” he stated.

“Ride,” stated his son, Jason White.

Pete helps his son out of the automobile and into his wheelchair. As they go into their favourite Starbucks, Jason tells everybody he sees to have a nice day.

Jason is 28 years outdated, and he would not say a lot. But he is about to get loud. Pete tells me they’re on the point of do considered one of his son’s favourite issues: waving at vehicles.

“Let’s go get some honks,” Pete stated.

WATCH: Meet an inspiring participant of Flying Pig weekend

Loveland man with cerebral palsy trains for Flying Pig race

Jason shakes and nearly jumps out of his chair on the sidewalk of a busy street in Blue Ash, waving to every car that passes.

“Wooooo,” Jason stated.

After a few honks, Jason will get in his walker and practices for PigAbilities. It’s a 1-mile race the day earlier than the Flying Pig Marathon. In this race, it is all about going at your individual tempo — strolling or rolling.

Jason, who has cerebral palsy, has been coaching for about six months.

“It’s a problem for him to go a mile in his walker,” Pete said. “But he is enthused by the crowds.”

Pete helps his son walk down the street, lighting up anytime he sees a school bus. When an ambulance drives by with flashing lights, Jason convulses in joy.

“He’s a superhero,” Pete said. “And his superpower is that he strikes his palms — he waves. And he makes folks joyful.”

I ask Pete how his son has changed his life, and he laughs. Then, he smiles.

“Jason has taught me almost everything important about life,” Pete said. “He has had a number of struggles — like many individuals with disabilities. But he would not give attention to that.”

Instead, the father and son go bowling, where several of Jason’s teammates are also planning to participate in PigAbilities. One teammate has been walking in the race since she was a child.

“It sort of takes the ‘dis’ out of disability,” Pete stated. “And it focuses on what people can do.”