Athlete, Actor Cameron Clapp to Present Motivational Lecture at Mercy

SPRINGFIELD — Athlete and actor Cameron Clapp will visit Mercy Medical Center on Thursday, Oct. 8 to tell his story of recovery and rehabilitation following a devastating tragedy in 2001.

A typical California teen who enjoyed surfing, skateboarding, and hanging out with friends, Clapp’s life changed forever at age 15 when he was struck by a train and lost both legs and his right arm. At the time, members of the medical community told Clapp he would never walk again. He proved them wrong just five months after the accident by walking independently with two prosthetic legs and competing in an athletic event only four months later.

Clapp not only learned to walk again, he surfs, runs competitively, swims, and inspires others through peer-to-peer mentoring and motivational public speaking. He has been featured in numerous national and international news programs and publications, including Today, CBS Evening News, the New York Times, and CNN. He has acted on the HBO original series Carnivale and the NBC comedy My Name Is Earl.

Clapp’s motivational lecture will begin at noon in the O’Hara Conference Room at the Deliso Conference Center at Mercy Medical Center, 299 Carew St., Springfield. The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Call (413) 748-6892 to reserve a seat.