Rival Athletes Donate Medals to Track Runner in Coma

After college track athlete Larry Ragdale went into a coma and missed an important meet, his opponents banded together to donate their own medals to him.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on June 14 2010

Larry Ragsdale, a 21-year-old student and track athlete at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon was dreaming of qualifying for the 400 hurdle finals at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges.

Sadly, when the event took place in late May, Larry wasn’t crouched at the starting line, ready to run. Instead, he was lying in bed unconscious. Larry’s car was hit by an alleged drunk driver in March. Since the accident, Larry has been comatose. And, because the young athlete has no health insurance, medical bills have been piling up.

Larry’s family has received plenty of support from the local community, with local businesses holding fundraisers to help pay off his medical bills. But one of the most touching gestures of support has come from an unlikely source: Larry’s would-be rivals.

At the finals awards ceremony, Larry’s track coach, Grady O’Connor, was approached by a group of runners from other schools. “They said ‘Coach, we want to give these to Larry,” O’Connor told KVAL News. “’We’re pulling for him. We’re thinking about him.’” To the coach’s surprise, the members of the rival teams pulled off their hard-won medals and handed them over.

The track athletes also joined together to help raise more money for Larry’s recovery by created personalized t-shirts and bracelets in his honor, and selling them at their meets. Their efforts have raised more than $500 so far.

Although Larry still has a long road ahead of him, the outpouring of support he’s received has been inspiring to his family and his coach. “This support at that meet from all of our rivals schools was very, very amazing,” said O’Connor.

Filed under: General Interest,

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