The humble journalist-turned-superhero celebrated everyone’s childhood, and the name Christopher Reeve will always come to mind whenever we hear Superman.
Reeve realized the impossible. He made entire generations fall in love with the character he embodied. Sadly, this tall man who could boast of his looks suffered serious injuries in a riding accident and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. But his paralysis did not prevent him from continuing to do his best. To be an actor, writer and philanthropist.
His fans and family have always supported him and that’s why he never gave up hope that one day his condition would improve. Sadly, he passed away in 2004, but his three children are here to carry on his legacy.
Reeve had a son Matthew and a daughter Alexandra with his wife Jay Exton, younger son Will and second wife Dana Reeve. Today, the three run their parents’ foundation, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.
The purpose of this organization is to help those who are paralyzed, and they are very successful in what they do. Will Reeve, now 25, is attracting public attention not only because he continued his parents’ business, but also because of the striking resemblance to his late father.
When Christopher lost the ability to walk and breathe on his own, Little Will was just a toddler. In an interview with People, he recalled how he and his dad were very close and did a lot of fun things together. Christopher even taught him how to fix the bike by giving him instructions and giving him support. When his real hero lost, Will was 11 years old.
Just 10 months after his death, Christopher’s wife and carer, Dana, was diagnosed with lung cancer. She died two years later, causing Will to lose his parents. At the time, he was 13 and moved with family friends to his hometown. This young man has grown up to the expectations of his parents. He now works for ESPN’s SportsCenter and continues to be an inspiration to many other young people.
However, he never puts the foundation aside and feels that by raising funds to help others, he honors his mother and father. He said today:
“Their passion for everything is what makes them so special. They care so much about making a difference in the world in any setting. It was a really special experience growing up in a home with them in this example. I try to carry on their legacy every day by doing exactly what I learned.
When told he looked a lot like his father, this young man said:
“My parents were beautiful people on the inside, so if I could compare them that way, I would definitely appreciate the comparison.”
People have listed Christopher Reeve on their cover as one of their 25 Most Intriguing People, and Will is happy to now be able to share his Superman story with the magazine. Watch the video below to learn more about Will’s life and the organization he now leads.
