For someone whose physical situation doesn't
afford the luxury of much movement, Perry Cross is one of the world's most motivating movers,
having travelled across Australia - and across the world - his powerful message reaching
thousands who believe everything
is possible!
A rugby tackle in 1994, at the age of 19, left Perry a
profoundly disabled quadriplegic, unable to move and on a life support machine... with a team of
around-the-clock medical carers at his side. Faced with a life of oblivion - he made an immensely
courageous choice to 'get moving'.
The challenge lay before him - the fight to
live, then to talk and eventually to live outside the
hospital.
He not only achieved this - but has excelled
in life ever since. He's been heralded by media worldwide as a tremendous role model for the human
spirit in overcoming the odds.
In 1996, Perry became Australia's
first professional speaker on life support and was runner-up in the
prestigious International
Communicator of the Year Awards.
'Pez', as he's affectionately known, was named Suncorp
Young Queenslander of the Year and a finalist in the Young Australian of the Year
Awards.
The year 2000 saw Perry complete a
Communications and Business degree at Bond University - another groundbreaking 'first'.
Perry has also travelled to the United States
as an advisor to the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of Young Australians.
While in New York, he met his look-alike, the
late Christopher Reeve to discuss research and raise awareness and funds toward a cure for
paralysis.
Perry met with the Governor-General and the
Prime Minister as an envoy for Reeve, lobbying them for the legalisation of Stem Cell research.
In 2005 Perry released his autobiography
“Still Standing”, his message is simply powerful, and powerfully simple.
In the same year the Perry X Foundation was established
to raise money to fund medical research into finding a cure for paralysis, and are currently
funding research scholarships at Bond University.
In 2007 Perry was recognised in the Faces of Queensland
and as a Gold Coast Icon in 2008.
Perry has
recently travelled to India to receive Stem Cell therapy that has enabled him to
breathe again, yet another
incredible moment. “Everything is Possible…..Let’s Get
Moving.”
Every
minute of everyday is a challenge for Perry.
Perry’s
story is about triumph over tragedy, and the purposeful decisions he had to make
to push himself harder, higher and better no matter what life threw his way, it
is a story that will inspire and
encourage.