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Rick Hoyt, a man with quadriplegia who competed in 32 Boston Marathons, died at age 61 from complications with his respiratory system, according to the Hoyt Foundation.
Rick began his racing career in 1977, when he asked his father, Dick Hoyt, to help him participate in a run to benefit a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident.
The five mile run was the first of many the pair would compete in, sparking a lifetime of advocacy work for people with disabilities.
The duo's 2009 Boston Marathon marked their 1000th race, but they kept working together to help other people with disabilities through the Hoyt Foundation, which they founded in 1989.
"Rick along with our father, Dick, were icons in the road race and triathlon worlds for over 40 years and inspired millions of people with disabilities to believe in themselves, set goals and accomplish extraordinary things," the family's statement read.
"We are fortunate to have been able to call Rick a friend, mentor, pioneer, and Boston Marathon finisher," reads a statement posted by the Boston Athletic Association. "His legacy will live on through the Rick & Dick Hoyt Award, which is presented each April around the Boston Marathon to someone who exhibits the spirit of Team Hoyt through advocacy and inclusion."
Rick's family is "heartbroken" and requests time to grieve before sharing details, their statement said.
A previously planned Dick Hoyt Memorial “Yes You Can” Road Race scheduled Saturday, May 27 in Hopkinton may be postponed, according to the foundation's statement.
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