Jason P. Lester
Jason P. Lester is an endurance athlete, the author of the book "Running on Faith", and the 2009 ESPY Award winner for Best Male Athlete with a Disability. He is the first disabled athlete to complete the Ultraman World Championships. He is the Founder of EPIC5 Challenge, EP1CMAN and The NEVER STOP Foundation est. 2007. Lester has completed endurance challenges such as the EPIC5 Challenge (5 Iron distance triathlons on 5 Hawaiian islands in 5 consecutive days), and a run and bike across the United States. On May 5, 2013 Lester ran across the United States, becoming  the 4th fastest runner to run from San Francisco to New York City to raise money for Hurricane Sandy victims. He ran along The Great Wall of China in 83 days, setting a world record by becoming the first person to run the length of the wall solo in a single attempt. Early life. Lester grew up playing baseball and football. When he was twelve years old, he was hit while on his bicycle by a woman driving who ran a red light. He was left for dead with 21 broken bones and a collapsed lung. Lester lost the use  of his right arm, which became partially paralyzed as a result of the accident. During the next several months he began a lengthy hospital recovery. While he was still in the hospital recovering, his father, and sole guardian, died of a heart attack. Twelve months after the accident, he went on to continue to play baseball and football, making the all star game with the use of only one arm. Lester continued to play sports throughout high school and college. He began to compete in running and biathlon races at age 16, and by age 18 was ranked #2 for  biathlons in the state of Arizona. Triathlon. Lester competed in the 2008 and 2009 Ironman World Championships in Kona. In 2008, Lester became the first disabled athlete to complete the Ultraman World Championships. In June 2009, at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii, Lester came in 3rd in his age group, which qualified him to compete in the Ironman World Championships later that year. That same summer, in July 2009, Lester became the first male triathlete to win an ESPY Award. In August 2009, Lester became the 25th person to complete both Ultraman Canada and Ultraman Hawaii out of 428 total competitors. In  November 2009, Lester became the 15th athlete in the history of Ultraman to complete both Hawaii and Canada in the same year. On March 19, 2012, Lester ran and biked over across the United States promoting the benefit of sport. On May 5, 2013, Lester made a transcontinental run across America in 72 days. The run was a collaborative service project with Waves For Water. Waves For Water is an active presence and force for the Hurricane Sandy Relief Initiative, which supports neighborhoods and communities recovering from Hurricane Sandy. The NEVER STOP Foundation. In 2007, Lester founded the Never Stop  Foundation. The NEVER STOP Foundation is dedicated to using athletics as a tool to encourage all youth to have the chance to achieve their full potential. The goal is to help those in their formative years find their own true voice, help them build their confidence, improve their communication skills and learn the values of discipline, trust, compassion, self-reliance, and respect.