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From the slums of Kingston, Jamaica to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, England; from a barefoot boy’s dream of winning a track race to a young man’s membership on his country’s first Olympic bobsled team – Devon Harris' inspiring tale of personal triumph over adversity and the uplifting story behind Jamaica’s first Winter Olympic team will captivate your audience.
So engaging was the story of the misfit band of athletes from the tropical island of Jamaica at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, that it served as the basis for the hit Disney movie, “Cool Runnings.” While the movie captured the heart and soul of a team that didn’t know the meaning of the word “impossible,” the personal story of Devon Harris is a testament of one man’s refusal to accept the limitations placed on him by birth or society.
Devon Harris was born on Christmas Day, 1964. The greatest gift he ever received was the belief that a positive attitude and a “never say die” philosophy would carry him farther than a sense of injustice and a heart filled with anger. Devon also learned at an early age that one can either spill tears of laughter or tears of rage when faced with life’s many obstacles.
When he is not bringing his captivating message of inspiration and hope to audiences across the globe, Devon invests his time in the Keep on Pushing Foundation. Devon started Keep on Pushing to bring hope to kids in disadvantaged communities around the globe by creating practical opportunities for them to explore their full potential. Through Keep on Pushing, Devon also works with Right to Play as an athlete ambassador, supporting Right to Play’s efforts in using sports and play in refugee camps to enhance child development and build community capacity. In 2006, Devon had the privilege of participating in Right to Play’s athlete project visit to Sierra Leone where the destruction of ten years of civil war and the effects of the AIDS epidemic were inescapable. Devon witnessed the amazing healing power of sports and the significant role it plays in teaching conflict resolution, rehabilitating child combatants and educating about the ravages of HIV and AIDS.
Devon is the author of the motivational children’s book Yes, I Can! and resides in Congers, New York with his wife and children. He aspires to be a source of inspiration to everyone he meets.
