Getting Things Started

Coach Farley & Nicholas James
reunite while Coach drives
through Arkansas.

I departed Spencer, Iowa on Tuesday morning shortly after my 5:30am run. It was a beautiful morning on the run and it was a great sign of how good my trip would be.

I will have to be honest...I was a bit nervous.

I knew that within the next 48 hours, I would have reunited with Mr. James in Arkansas and his son, Nicholas James.

I really wasn't too sure of what to expect.

The drive took all day and, I took my time. I even stopped in Tarkio, MO along the way and had lunch with an old teammate, Jason Goldberg who still resides in Tarkio...where I went to college for 3 years.

On Wednesday morning, at approximately 11:30am...I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant where I was meeting Mr. James, "The Whole Hog Barbecue"! 

Great Barbecue at "The
Whole Hog"

It was a moment that I will forever keep in my thoughts. I pulled into the drive and there was Mr. James in his pick-up truck...but, to my surprise, sitted in the passenger seat was Nicholas James! It was incredible.

But, what was even more incredible was what I got to experience the next several hours. I was able to watch a true team work hand in hand together. Mr. Randall James and Nicholas, showed me what a true team looks like. From working TOGETHER to get out of a pick-up truck and into a wheelchair, to working together so that Nicholas can enjoy the amazing food at "The Whole Hog", to communicating...I had the priveledge of seeing a successful team in action.

I was also able to witness TRUE HAPPINESS. Nicholas James' car accident may have changed his life in many ways...from walking to not walking, from being independent to needing 24/7 care givers, and many other ways. But, the car accident DID NOT change Nicholas James' heart. It did not change Nicholas James' soul. It did not change Nicholas James' mind. And it did not change Nicholas James' personality.

The "Bear Lea" Farm

Nicholas James is a very happy person. If you spend a few hours with Nick, like I had the opportunity to do...he will make you smile, he will make you laugh, and he will make you wonder...he made me wonder how in the world I ever allow myself to NOT be happy.

Nicholas James changed my life for the better on Wednesday, November 10, 2010.  And every push or pull of the pedals that I make on the bike ride in April will TRULY be in HONOR and DEDICATION of Nicholas James and his wonderful teammate...and Father, Mr. Randall James.

Head Coach, Kevin Farley is traveling through Arkansas and Texas throughout this next week to meet with the James' family, the United Cerebral Palsy Organization, and Alex Schindler Director of the Panda Cup Tournament in Lewisville, Texas.