THE RODS HEROES STORY

In 2007, our founders, Brady and Andrea Murray were expecting their son, Nash. Shortly after Nash was born, they were told that he has Down syndrome. What at first seemed to surely be one of their family’s biggest trials turned out to be one of their greatest blessings. Over the following months and years, they discovered firsthand what a blessing it is to experience life with someone who has Down syndrome.

Fast foward to 2011, the Diane Sawyer show featured a special airing of a family from Utah traveling to Ukraine to pick up a beautiful baby with Down Syndrome. Brady and Andrea will never forget the shocking day when they learned that it is common practice in many countries for a parent to abandon their child upon learning they have a disability like Down Syndrome.

Facing a harrowing future, these children are placed in an orphanage for a short time, ultimately encountering even more troubling waters. Children aged five or six are transferred to an adult mental institution and many die within just a few short months of being institutionalized.

After seeing multiple images of children with Down syndrome who were abused and extremely malnourished, Brady and Andrea felt compelled to act. The Murrays learned that in many cases, the financial burden of international adoption is the only thing standing in the way of a child being adopted.

Upon learning this, they decided to raise enough money to provide an adoption grant for a four-year-old boy with Down syndrome, Eli, who was tucked away in an orphanage in Lithuania.

Their plan worked. Within 30 days of an adoption grant being raised for Eli, a family from Indiana committed to adopting him. From this experience, they knew there was hope! After that, it was just a matter of finding ways to raise more adoption funding.

Motivated to help many more children, Brady and Andrea began to think of creative ways to share these children’s stories and raise additional adoption funds.

 During the previous year, Brady had begun racing in a few local triathlons. Andrea challenged Brady to complete a full Ironman triathlon for the purpose of raising money and awareness for children with Down syndrome.

At the time, this challenge seemed far too difficult for Brady to complete. An Ironman consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle race, and a 26 mile run. After considering the challenge for a few days, Brady knew that he couldn’t do an Ironman for himself, but he felt he could do it if it meant a child would find a family. The training started and the Murrays learned a very valuable lesson. They learned that if they allowed themselves to get caught up in a cause bigger than themselves, they would witness miracles.

 The news of Brady’s desire to complete a full Ironman began to spread throughout the Ironman community. Within a few months of committing to a full Ironman, the Murrays witnessed a miracle. Brady was invited to compete in the Ironman World Championship that fall, and to have his story and the story of the children he was racing for featured on that year’s NBC Ironman broadcast.

From the media exposure gained from the NBC Ironman broadcast, hundreds of individuals from around the country were inspired to join the cause of helping children who have Down syndrome find a loving home. It was from this experience that Racing for Orphans with Down Syndrome (RODS) was born.

By 2015, with the RODS Heroes movement in full swing, Brady and Andrea felt inspired to welcome another child with Down syndrome into their home. They began looking at the waiting children on Reece’s Rainbow and felt drawn to a three-year-old boy in China. Cooper’s adoption was finalized a year later in March of 2016. Having experienced once again the light and joy that a child with Down syndrome brings into a home, the Murrays’ desire to help children with Down syndrome in orphanages and institutions grew even stronger.

RODS Racing was Sponsored by the Idaho Potato Bowl. The excitement of racing for each individual child who deserved a family was extremely rewarding to work. These races brought together amazing athletes, families, and communities rallying together for the cause.  

RODS Racing partnered with Disney. The racing platform continued to increase to new heights. These races mostly took place in Florida and with their help, more families were able to unite with their Hero!

Mike McKnight a professional runner, Colorado Trail FKT Holder, and low-carb running coach, joined the team. Mike’s knowledge of running combined with his passion for racing and children with special needs was the perfect highlight for RODS. He advocated for children with Down syndrome while he completed his races, and found many families seeking to complete their family with adoption.   

When 2020 and a global pandemic hit, many remember the harrowing days. China shut its doors to all adoptions, shifting the momentum RODS Heroes maintained and allowing the swiftness carry in a different direction. RODS Racing evolved from to RODS Heroes with a new plan.

RODS Heroes met with Colombia and we made our first in-country visit to foster homes and institutions to create advocacy content for waiting children.

Shortly after the return of the team, RODS Heroes Board Members met and approved the notion to open RODS Heroes up for more than just children with Down syndrome. The team felt the flood come in as many families raised their hands and began their adoption journey.

RODS Heroes’ ultimate vision for the future is that families, communities, and nations will see the light that individuals with special abilities have, and will choose to keep these children and allow them to thrive in their home communities.

We realize there is much that must transpire before this vision becomes a reality. Our vision for the immediate future is that, together with the work of our Unstoppable Advocates, we are able to find a loving home where every superhero child can thrive and achieve their divine potential.