"A routine football play that we've done a million times changed Chris' world forever." - Center Football Player
"When your 18 years old the gravity of the situation never sets in" - Teammate
“We don’t get to control what happens to us, but we can choose how we respond...No one ever volunteers to struggle, but it can be one of our greatest teachers. My story is hard, but it is full of hope, and I think that is relevant to everyone right now.” - Norton
As an 18 year-old freshman at Luther College, Chris Norton took to the field in a game against Center in 2010. During the second half of the game Norton sustained a significant spinal cord injury, leaving doctors to presume only a 3% chance of regaining movement from the neck and below.
Following that chance, Norton began being able to move his left arm. His father recalled that very moment "he didn't think I was noticing, so he's winking at me, but he wanted to show me 'hey I just beat that 3%.'"
Then, May 24th 2015 came. 4.5 years after the accident, including 4800 hours of training. Chris walked accross the graduation stage with the help of Emily, his fiancee. That video has now been seen over 300 million times.
#5 in high school, #16 in college now has become the #1 inspiration for so many. Chris founded 'The Chris Norton Foundation' at 20 years old. Such a foundation helps support individuals with spinal cord injuries, and neurological disorders, as well as fund research. Norton added author to his repituar, coming out with The Seven Longest Yards. As well as releasing a documentary, 7 Yards, in February of 2021.
Filming for the documentary began in 2017, and his wedding was held in April of 2018, 7 years after the incident.
FAST FACTS:
1. video of Chris Norton’s graduation walk has been viewed over 300 million times on social media.
2. Doctors gave Chris Norton only a 3% chance to ever move again after he was paralyzed playing college football.
3. The real people from this real story do the majority of the re-enactments.
4. Chris Norton re-enacts the football tackle that changed his life.
5. The football player who tackled Chris Norton gives an exclusive first interview in the film.
6. Chris Norton’s journey has been embraced by the media with nearly every major outlet sharing the iconic graduation walk and wedding walk clip
7. A 10-second clip of the wedding walk was People’shighest performing post of all time. It was bumped to second place after Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s wedding.
8. World-renowned wedding designer Nathan Johnson provided custom floral and decor for Chris and Emily’s wedding, adding a surprise wedding makeover to the storyline.
9. The film has garnered support and endorsements from celebrities and influencers including Tim Tebow, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and the NCAA.
10. Since their wedding, Chris and Emily Norton have adopted five girls into their family and fostered a total of 18 children.
11. Fotolanthropy’s debut film Travis: A Soldier’s Storyreceived a standing ovation at every screening
댓글