2017 - Justin Skeesuck & Patrick Gray - I'll Push You: A Story of Radical Friendship, Overcoming Challenges and the Power of Community

The January Series of Calvin University

In the spring of 2012, Justin Skeesuck asked his best friend of nearly 40 years, Patrick Gray, to tackle the epic 500-mile pilgrimage across northern Spain called the Camino de Santiago. The challenge? Justin lives life in a wheelchair. When asked, Patrick's response was simple and direct, he said, "I'll push you." Two years later, they started their journey and had absolutely no idea how they would make the 500 miles from France to the Cathedral in Santiago, they just knew they had to get there. Justin and Patrick had to rely on the help and strength of friends, acquaintances and even complete strangers in order to navigate the many challenges they faced on their 34-day journey. Since returning from Spain, they have used their heartfelt storytelling to share the comical details of their journey... the joys, the struggles, the beautiful relationships and the lessons they learned in faith, hope, love and friendship. Their goal in sharing their story is that others will walk away recognizing that each life is not defined by its limitations, but is defined by what is accomplished in spite of those limitations.