Speaker born without arms talks about challenges he has overcome

Published: 2005-05-16

DENVER (CNS) -- Born without arms, John Foppe knows a lot about challenges -- and about transcending them. More than 500 people turned out at an April 29 luncheon to hear his message of faith, hope and love as he described how he overcame his disabilities to find personal fulfillment and professional success as a motivational speaker. The luncheon benefited the Denver archdiocesan Seeds of Hope Charitable Trust, which has distributed more than $9.2 million in tuition assistance to more than 6,100 needy students in inner-city schools since its founding eight years ago. The 35-year-old Foppe, who uses his feet as his hands, calls his physical disability a "condition." "A condition is basically anything that can get in your way of living a full, happy and productive life," Foppe said. "It's never about the condition itself," he added. "It's always about our response to it."

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .