Randy Alexander almost wasn’t born on April 28, 1969. Complications during the birthing process found the umbilical cord wrapped around his throat. The doctors lost his heartbeat long enough to tell Randy’s father and grandmother that there was no hope for survival.
Due to the lack of oxygen, Randy was born with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. The diagnosis wasn’t made until after the age of 2. Randy began attending physical therapy classes at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and had his first corrective surgeries there in 1972. At the time, he was the youngest person in Tennessee to have his Achilles’ Tendons lengthened. Randy’s life as a trailblazer had begun.
In 1974, Randy began attending Cole Elementary. He was the first child with a disability to attend that school. While there, Randy played baseball for the Red Sox and soccer for the Rowdies. No one with a handicap had ever played organized sports in the Nashville school system.
Following graduation, Randy was selected by the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs Society as a youth delegate to the United Nations. While in New York, he won his first talent show. The standing ovation and demand for an encore had him hooked.
In the early 90’s, Randy had the first complications of his Cerebral Palsy. He found himself bedridden and watching stand-up comedy incessantly. Randy’s mother, Faye, suggested that he try stand-up. As soon as he healed, he hit the stage.
Working as a stand-up led to many opportunities for Randy. Not the least of which was writing and voicing commercials. The local radio station airing the commercials, Thunder 94, offered him a spot as an intern. Within 3 years, Randy had risen from intern to host of the extremely popular “The Night Show.” During that time, Randy got to tell jokes with Mikhail Baryshnikov and discuss the Bible with Marilyn Manson. The singer, Jewel, asked to touch his nose.
After Thunder 94 went off the air in August of ’97, Randy was not so fortunate. A series of physical setbacks led to ten surgeries in ten years putting his total over 20. While recuperating, Randy came up with an idea. Why waste the knowledge and experience that he had gained over the years? Why not share the wisdom with children that are about to experience the same things he had? That’s when HeroesInTraining.org was born.
It is Randy’s belief that if the trailblazers with handicaps, or Cancer, or A.I.D.S. share their knowledge with youths experiencing the same setbacks, there would be no limit to the children’s impact on the future. So, in April 2007, Randy began the process of turning HeroesInTraining.org into a not-for-profit organization.
In order to fund the charity, Randy will take a hand-bike from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, CA. He will travel 25 miles a day, five days a week. The journey will take a little over 6 months. While raising money for HeroesInTraining.org, Randy will be spreading the word that there are no limitations except those we place on ourselves. For it is his belief that if you can dream it, you can do it.
