Travis Roy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Travis Roy
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Roy in 2011
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| Born | April 17, 1975 Yarmouth, Maine, U.S.
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| Died | October 29, 2020 (aged 45) near Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
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| Occupation | Forward for the Boston University Terriers Founder of the Travis Roy Foundation |
Travis Matthew Roy (born April 17, 1975 – died October 29, 2020) was an American ice hockey player, writer, and a kind person who helped others.
In 1995, during his very first game for Boston University, he had an accident. This injury left him unable to move his body from the neck down. Later, Travis started the Travis Roy Foundation. This group helps people with spinal cord injuries and supports research to find cures. He also wrote a book about his life called Eleven Seconds in 1998.
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Early Life and Hockey Dreams
Travis Roy was born on April 17, 1975, in Yarmouth, Maine. His parents were Lee and Brenda Roy.
Travis loved playing ice hockey from a young age. He dreamed of playing for a top college hockey team. He went to Yarmouth High School for a year. Then he moved to North Yarmouth Academy (NYA) to try for a sports scholarship. He later graduated from Tabor Academy. After that, he earned an ice hockey scholarship to Boston University.
Travis also had family in Vermont. His great-grandfather, Elisha Goodsell, ran ferries on Lake Champlain. He lived in Malletts Bay, where the Roy family still spends time in the summer.
A Life-Changing Injury
On October 20, 1995, Travis was 20 years old. He was playing his first game for the Boston University men's ice hockey team. Just eleven seconds into the game, he lost his balance. He fell headfirst into the boards after checking another player.
This hard hit caused him to break bones in his neck. This injury made him a quadriplegic, meaning he could not move his arms or legs. Later, he was able to move his right arm again.
After a tough time recovering, Travis went back to Boston University. He graduated in 1999 with a degree in communications. He always supported the Boston University hockey team. He also became great friends with his coach, Jack Parker.
The Travis Roy Foundation
In 1996, while still in college, Travis started "The Travis Roy Foundation." He wanted to help other people with spinal cord injuries. He also wanted to fund research to find a cure. Travis wanted to help those who did not have as much support as he did.
By October 2020, the foundation had given about $9 million. This money went to individuals and research projects. Grants helped people buy wheelchairs, computers, ramps, and other special equipment. This equipment helps people with paralysis live better lives. These grants helped over 2,100 people by October 2020. Athletes, companies, and communities donated money to make this possible.
Travis believed these grants helped people live with more freedom. He once said, "It's never about the wheelchair...It's a little piece of independence, a little piece of dignity." In 2008, about 250,000 people in the U.S. lived with a spinal cord injury. About 13,000 new injuries happen each year.
In 2015, Boston University's Sargent College announced a big gift. Anonymous donors gave $2.5 million to create the Travis M. Roy Professorship. This helped the foundation have office space on campus. It also gave them money for staff for 10 years.
The Travis Roy Foundation worked with famous athletes to raise money. Chris Drury, a former NHL player and Travis's college teammate, holds a golf tournament every year. This event has raised over $1 million for spinal cord injury research.
Inspiring Others Through Speaking
Travis had always dreamed of playing in the NHL. When that dream changed, he looked for a new purpose. He also needed a way to earn money. He decided to become a public speaker. Travis was paid to share his story at schools and businesses.
Travis was a well-known motivational speaker. He gave about 40 talks each year. He wanted to show his positive view on life, even with his challenges. His speeches aimed to teach about "core values, having pride, setting goals, having a positive attitude, which leads toward happiness." He once said, "The first 20 years I had a life that was full of passion and the last 20 I’ve had a life full of purpose.”
Even though he helped raise millions, Travis knew a cure for his injury was far away. He did not expect to walk again. But he found joy in the small things his foundation did for others. He also loved inspiring people. Travis also spoke to the U.S. Senate and the Massachusetts government. He supported research using stem cells to help people with spinal cord injuries.
Awards and Recognition
In 1998, the ice arena at North Yarmouth Academy was named the "Travis Roy Arena." His jersey number, 00, was also retired by NYA. It hangs next to Eric Weinrich's No. 7. These are the only numbers retired by the school.
In 1996, Maine High School Hockey created the Travis Roy Award. This award is given each year to the best Class A boys’ high school hockey player in Maine.
In October 1999, Travis's jersey number 24 was retired by Boston University. It was raised to the rafters of Walter Brown Arena, and is now in BU's Agganis Arena. Travis was the only BU hockey player to have his number retired until his former coach, Jack Parker, received the honor in 2014.
In 2015, Boston mayor Marty Walsh declared October 20th as Travis Roy Day. This special day started on the 20th anniversary of Travis's injury. It celebrates how Travis inspired the hockey world and people across the country.
In 2016, Boston University gave Travis an honorary doctorate degree. He received this for his humanitarian work. He helped people with spinal cord injuries by raising money for research and equipment. He also fought for new laws to help them.
Personal Life and Legacy
After graduating from Boston University, Travis moved to Boston, Massachusetts. He liked the independence he found in the city. Even with more freedom, he still needed helpers around the clock. They helped him with daily tasks like getting dressed and eating.
Travis and Sports Illustrated writer E.M. Swift wrote his autobiography, Eleven Seconds, in 1998. The book tells about his life before and after his injury. It focuses on the challenges he faced and his amazing strength. The book's title refers to the short time Travis played for Boston University before his injury.
Travis Roy passed away on October 29, 2020, at age 45. He died from problems after a recent surgery. His legacy of helping others continues through his foundation.
