Darius Glover never slows down

At 15 years old, Glover experienced just how dangerous motocross can be. A terrible crash mangled his body, leaving him bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

“I went to do a jump out of a corner and it was wet, I didn’t know it, lost all the momentum coming up to the jump, and I ended up not making it all the way, I flipped over the handlebars and the bike followed me down to the ground,” he said. “I remember it drilling me into the ground, and I tried to get up once, my legs didn’t work. It felt like someone set my back on fire, and that’s when I knew.”

Determined to not let his disability prevent him from doing what he loved, he also promised to not let it bring him down. His positive attitude plus a wealth of natural talent allowed him to become the first paralyzed AMA-certified rider, with a dream of winning the highest class of motocross racing at the exclusive Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championship.

Glover’s family helps him prepare for race days, but his mom Cynthia is more inspired by his positive outlook than his accomplishments on the track. “I have no doubt that had he not been injured he probably wouldn’t be as positive about life. It has given me courage, you know, just looking at what he all has to go through. I never complain anymore,” she said.

Glover hopes his motivation to win a national title and positive attitude will inspire others.

“Now that I’ve been in this situation and been able to help other people, or see other people live their dreams, you know, just because I’m living mine, it makes me happy, and being able to do that, it’s a joy,” he said.

Glover is not only making a difference on the track. He’s developed a non-profit called Live and Learn where he gives motivational speeches to schools and visits local hospitals inspiring patients faced with disabilities.

“I turned my paralysis into something positive because I knew that I could do something powerful like walk again if I worked hard enough. At first, I had no clue that I would be riding again and helping people by staying positive and sharing my story. When I first got paralyzed it hurt my mother terribly. I had seen her crying, and from that point on I told myself that I would never let myself get down or under the weather just because of something small like not being able to walk. I also knew that it would be a great outcome if I just stayed positive.”

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