Perry Cross - Biography
For someone whose physical situation doesn’t afford the luxury of much movement, Perry Cross is one of the world’s most motivating movers, having travelled across Australia - and across the world - his powerful message reaching thousands who believe everything is possible!
A rugby tackle in 1994, at the age of 19, left Perry Cross a profoundly disabled quadriplegic, unable to move and on a life support machine... with a team of around-the-clock medical carers at his side.
Faced with a life of oblivion - he made an immensely courageous choice to ‘get moving’.
The challenge lay before him - the fight to live, then to talk and eventually to live outside the hospital.
He not only achieved this - but has excelled in life ever since. He’s been heralded by media worldwide as a tremendous role model for the human spirit in overcoming the odds.
In 1996, Perry became Australia’s first motivational speaker on life support and was runner-up in the prestigious International Communicator of the Year Awards.
‘Pez’, as he’s affectionately known, was named Suncorp Young Queenslander of the Year and a finalist in the Young Australian of theYear Awards.
The year 2000 saw Perry complete a Communications and Business degree at Bond University - another groundbreaking ‘first’.
Perry has also travelled to the United States as an advisor to the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of Young Australians.
While in New York, he met his look-alike, the late Christopher Reeve to discuss research and raise awareness and funds toward a cure for paralysis.
Perry met with the Governor-General and the Prime Minister as an envoy for Reeve, lobbying them for the legalisation of Stem Cell research.
In 2005 Perry released his autobiography “Still Standing”, his message is simply powerful, and powerfully simple.
In the same year the Perry X Foundation was established to raise money to fund medical research into finding a cure for paralysis, and are currently funding research scholarships at Bond University.
Perry has recently travelled to India to receive Stem Cell therapy that has enabled him to breathe again, yet another incredible moment.
“Everything is Possible….. Let’s Get Moving.”
Every minute of everyday is a challenge for Perry.
Perry’s story is about triumph over tragedy, and the purposeful decisions he had to make to push himself harder, higher and better no matter what life threw his way, it is a story that will inspire and encourage.
