Born with spastic quadriplegia, the most serious and disabling form of spastic cerebral palsy, Jeff’s muscles involuntarily and continuously contract, making issues of balance and movement a challenge. Despite these difficulties, Jeff has always loved and sought to compete in the world of sports.

As a child Jeff was told told year after year that he couldn’t participate on his hometown’s Little League team due to his cerebral palsy. In high school, he became the first person in the history of his school to be cut from the football team.

In spite of these challenges, Jeff carved his own path, and pursued a dream of competitive running. His hard work and dedication led him to compete at the collegiate level in both cross country and track and field. The inspirational affect he had on teammates, competitors, and spectators alike was universal, and at the end of his collegiate career, he had an annual race renamed in his honor.

Since graduation, Jeff has been a coach and a professional speaker. He has shared his motivational message at schools and colleges across the United States, including presentations to the UNLV men’s basketball team and The University of Iowa Medical School.

His inspirational story of perseverance and overcoming adversity has been featured in such national publications as Runner’s World Magazine and has appeared in some of the nation’s most prominent newspapers including the Chicago Tribune, the Houston Chronicle, and the Miami Herald.