Inspirational story to lighten the mood

A little inspirational reading to help you stay the course during this heavy period of opinion writing and television commentaries.

The following is an excerpt from the book "Winning My Race"by Dr. Ben Lerner and Dr. Chris Zaino.

Derek Redmond, from England, arrived at the 1992 Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona determined to win a medal in the 400-meter race. Derek's father, Jim, had accompanied him to Barcelona, just as he did for all world competitions.

As race time approached for the semifinal 400 heat, Jim headed up to his seat at the top of Olympic Stadium, not far from where the Olympic torch was just a few days earlier. The stadium was packed with 65,000 fans, bracing themselves for one of sport's greatest and most exciting spectacles. The race began, and Redmond broke from the pack and quickly seized the lead.

Down the backstretch, only 175 meters away from finishing, Redmond heard a pop in his right hamstring. With his face pale and his leg quivering, Redmond began hopping on one leg, then slowed down and fell to the track. As he laid on the track, clutching his right hamstring, a medical personnel unit ran toward him. At the same time, Jim Redmond, seeing his son in trouble, raced down from the top row of the stands, sidestepped people and bumped into others. As the medical crew arrived with a stretcher, Redmond told them, "No, there's no way I'm getting on that stretcher. I'm going to finish my race."

Then, in a moment that will live forever in the minds of millions, Redmond lifted himself to his feet, ever so slowly, and started hobbling down the track. The other runners have finished the race, with Steve Lewis of the U.S. winning the contest in 44.50. Suddenly, everyone realized Redmond wasn't dropping out of the race, but was actually continuing on one leg. He was going to attempt to hobble his way to the finish line.

Slowly the crowd, in total disbelief, rose and began to roar. The roar got louder and louder. Through the searing pain, Redmond heard the cheers, but later stated, "I wasn't doing it for the crowd." He would later say, "I was doing it for me. Whether people thought I was an idiot or a hero, I wanted to finish the race. I'm the one who has to live with it."

One painful step at a time, each one a little slower and more painful than the one before, and his face twisted with pain and tears, Redmond limped onward, and the crowd, many in tears, cheered him on. Jim Redmond finally got to the bottom of the stand, leaped over the railing, avoided a security guard, and ran out to his son, with two security people chasing after him.

"That's my son out there," he yelled back to security, "and I'm going to help him."

Finally, with Derek refusing to surrender and painfully limping along the track, Jim reached his son at the final curve, about 120 meters from the finish, and wrapped his arm around his waist.

"I'm here, son," Jim said softly, hugging his boy. "We'll finish together." Derek put his arms around his father's shoulders and continued to sob.

Together, arm in arm, father and son, with 65,000 people cheering, clapping and crying, they finished the race, just as they vowed they would.

A couple steps from the finish line, and with the crowd in an absolute frenzy, Jim released the grip he had on his son, so Derek could cross the finish line by himself. Then he threw his arms around Derek again, both crying, along with everyone in the stands and on television worldwide.

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I recently finished the book "The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History" by Boris Johnson (former mayor of London). Johnson is leading the BREXIT (Leave The EU) campaign about England's upcoming vote to stay.

In seeking more info on the pros and cons I found a one hour, eleven-minute video at brexitthemovie.com. It's well worth your time to become better informed -- a good economic study.

"I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle." -- Winston Churchill

Gary Rust is chairman of the board of Rust Communications, which owns the Southeast Missourian, as well as a member of the editorial board.