Hello Everyone. I would like to start off by saying thank you for watching and reading the story of Dartanyon and me. I would like to give a special thanks to Lisa Fenn and Tom Rinaldi at ESPN for even considering telling our story. To all of the people who have reached out to us and to ESPN, I would like to thank you for showing such tremendous support.
Dartanyon and I thank you for sending the emails, picking up the phone and caring enough to follow through in helping us. Your faith in us has actually increased my belief in myself. Your words and efforts mean more to me that I am able to express I am not used to my phone ringing with good news, and so as all of this good news has come in, all I can do is sit in shock. I sometimes even shake a little in disbelief. Thanks to all of you, I will get to start college. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to design video games and now I have that chance. It’s just amazing. Thank you so much!
Leroy Sutton
I have shared your amazing journey with everyone I know. My two sons (both ahletes as well) have watched it and were encourage and inspired.. Yes thats right both of you have inspired them as well as others. I will continue to share this story as long as I am able. My hope is that schools will share your story with students accros the country, maybe even the world! God Bless you.
Darlene Johnson
When I saw your story, it brought me back to those days I spent grappling in the gym in HS. I want to thank you for uplifting my spirits and reminding me never to let life’s circumstances get in the way of my dreams. There will be more times in life as I have learned that will come back and test your resolve and faith in something. It is my hope that you continue to stay strong and maintain your profound positivity and maturity. It is also my great hope that this foundation creates more opportunities that you so very much deserve. I hope to hear more about your accomplishments in the future. May you two both be blessed and continue to share the many good things that your lives have and undoubtedly will bring to this world in the future. You inspire me.
Leroy, you are such a wonderful person! You have so much stregnth and I admire that! You have toughed my life in many ways. I shared your video with many people and I hope that we could put as much as we can in your fund! Love all the way from Colorado!
Wow! I do not think I even have words to describe how I felt as I watched you and Dartanyon’s story. What an inspiration! So many young people would have resorted to resentment or self pity or at the very least apathy or excuses for not living life to your fullest potential! The strength, determination and love of life that you two posess is such a refreshing thing to see.
I am a director for an Upward Bound Program in Freeport, IL. We are a college preparation program for first generation/low income high school students. I will be sharing your story with our group and include a group discussion about overcoming obstacles and so many other lessons they can learn from hearing your story. I have no doubt that you two will be an inspiration to them as well.
I know that I do not even have to say this…that you both already know how fortunate that God has given the two of you each other!
My thoughts and prayers are with you as you both pursue your exciting and fullfilling future. May you continue to touch others with your lives!
JP