Ben Affleck to Present Boston Marathon Runners Dick and Rick Hoyt with an ESPY
The organizers of the ESPN’S Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards (or ESPYS) confirmed that Ben Affleck will present two legendary Boston Marathon runners with one of the ceremony’s most prestigious awards at a ceremony later this month. Affleck, a proud Boston native, will present the Jimmy V Perseverance Award to Dick and Rick Hoyt, a father-son duo, known as Team Hoyt, who have been participating in races and triathlons together for more than 30 years.
Dick and Rick Hoyt are from Holland, Massachusetts, and while Rick, now 51 years-old, was born with cerebral palsy, he and his 73-year-old father Dick have competed in more than 1,000 endurance events together. Dick has pushed his son through every race in a custom-made running chair. This past Boston Marathon was said to be their final one together—they’ve ran a total of 30 Boston Marathons—and Team Hoyt was just a mile from the finish line before the explosions. The bombings prevented the Hoyts from finishing their 31st Boston Marathon, but together they vow to race again in 2014. John Hancock officially sponsors the duo and their team of 30 more runners.
The local legends were honored by the Boston Athletic Association on April 8 of this year, just days before the big race, with a statue depicting them in front of Center School in Hopkinton, right near the Boston Marathon starting line.
Team Hoyt was also honored at the Red Sox game following the Boston Marathon back in April.
At the ESPYS, organized by ESPN, LeBron James of the Miami Heat will also present the Arthur Ashe Courage Award to Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, a nationally ranked women’s basketball player and cancer survivor. Mad Men actor Jon Hamm will host.
The 2013 ESPYS will air on July 17 at 9 p.m. on ESPN. Visit espn.com for more details. Additional information about Dick and Rick Hoyt cane be found at teamhoyt.com.
