Adam Ward could lift about 10 Mitchell Tanquists. Ward is a competitive weightlifter who spends his time crafting his body and powerlifting as much weight as he can. Mitchell Tanquist is an 11-year-old boy suffering from spina bifida and hydrocephalus—diseases that attack both the mind and body.
Ward met Tanquist two years ago, when he got involved with the Relentless powerlifting competition to benefit HopeKids, which works with children facing serious illness.
The competition raises money for the organization, and Ward and about 30 other powerlifters helped raise $120,000 in 2013 and $200,000 in 2014 for HopeKids. Each lifter is paired with a child whom they represent in the competition, and the children watch in awe as the strong men throw around massive weights. Ward even set a national record at this year’s competition by squatting 750 lbs.
“A lot of big, tattooed, bearded kinds of people want to show [the kids] we can be their superheroes,” Ward says. “And then they show us they are our superhero.”
@
Learn more at hopekids.com.
