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Michael Friant

@potentialfulest

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2442

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Motto Kicking CP’s Ass
Advocate/Motivational Speaker/Adventurous/ UNCW Alumni #wingsup
Website: despiteofcp.org
Follow @runswithcerebralpalsy

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Letter to the President of The United States. @potus @joebiden @bidenharrishq #politics #ableaccount #disabledadvocate #presidentbiden #electionyear2024 #advocacy #realityinamerica #ssa #ssi #graduate #cerebralpalsy #speechimpediment #deftingtheodds #breakingstereotypes #bachelorsdegree

P.S. I wrote this entire thing on my own. Am not being paid by anyone. This isn’t an endorsement either. It’s just a letter to President Biden who is also a presidential candidate. by @potentialfulest

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3 years ago

Read!!!
This is what #disabilitypride is for me.

From being born with cerebral palsy, living in an unstable household with unfit parents for the first 11 years, having DSS (Social Service) get involved, being moved to various foster homes before landing legally into my forever family, undergoing two major surgeries (the first one to get my feeding tube which I had since I was an infant, closed, the second one was for major corrective ankle surgery), dealing with the rehab of those surgeries while simultaneously learning basic things that one would learn at an early age, and catching up academically for the next 12 years. At the age of 23 moving into my first apartment, learning how to navigate the world, learning how to deal with people who don’t know how to interact with me due to a speech impediment, getting my GED, establishing my own world views, traveling alone domestically to Utah and Arizona and then internationally to Calgary, Canada. Attending two years of community college which required me to ride the bus for two hours every day, getting into running and working up to a half marathon in 3 2/1 years, and now entering my 2nd year at UNCW studying communications.

Even though, I am extremely proud of what I have accomplished, I wouldn’t have been able to do it without every single person who has come into my life no matter how long they were in my life for. For that I am extremely grateful to everyone who has contributed to my success. It truly takes a village to live a fulfilling life. Sometimes, I forget how far I have come.

Finally, I don’t share this to elicit sympathy but rather to show that regardless of your life circumstances, you can achieve anything. However, this does not mean you won’t feel like giving up. I have had plenty of those moments. Without the struggles, you can not properly enjoy the successful moments. by @potentialfulest

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

Good bye summer ‘26 and thank you

@hayden_crust thanks you for including me to the World Cup. It’s always a great time hanging with you.

Surfing with @livefearlesslyfoundation and @rc_surf_instruction and friends

Did a whole lot of running. Secured a damn machete in the process. Plus having fun at the track with the boys.

Looking forward to doing more stuff in the next months. taken in Wilmington, North Carolina by @potentialfulest

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25 days ago

I used to crawl across my house.

Now I’m training for a 50K.

That sentence still feels unreal.

For the first decade of my life, I lived in a wheelchair. I wore UFOs, had surgery to correct my inwardly turned ankles, and went through years of rehabilitation without professional oversight.

Later in life, I found running.

I didn’t start because I thought I’d be fast.

I started because I believed in equality.

I wanted the same starting line.
The same finish line.
The same opportunity to see how far I could go.

5Ks became half marathons.
Roads became trails.
And now the next chapter is a marathon and my first 50K.

My body may have taken a different path.

But that doesn’t mean I have to dream smaller.

If you’re wondering how far you can go, start by believing you deserve the chance to find out.

Follow @runswithcerebralpalsy and come see where this journey goes. 🏃‍♂️

#RunningCommunity
#RunnersOfInstagram
#RunMotivation
#cerebralpalsyawareness
#runnerwithcerebralpalsy taken in Wilmington, North Carolina by @potentialfulest

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a month ago

Two years ago today was the last time I jumped out of a plane. Can’t wait for my fifth time. Yes you read that correctly, I have jumped 4 times thus far.

It’s definitely one of my favorites because just me and my dawg @stephennymberg just chilling in the sky.

Nothing competes with this sensation of voluntarily throwing yourself out of a perfect working plane and falling thousands of miles per second towards our beautiful earth. Call me insane but I freaking love it and to be able do it with homies is the cherry on top. by @potentialfulest

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2 months ago

First surf edit from almost two weeks ago now. 🤙🤙🤙

#adaptivesurfing
#cerebral_palsy
#friends
#dronefootage by @potentialfulest

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2 months ago

Over 8 hours of being out in the heat and on the trails, I persevered and got that machete. 🌳

The person who did it with me said something that stuck with me: pain and exhaustion are temporary, but that machete is forever.

Now, going on 15 hours after the finish, I can attest that it’s true. I’m feeling much better, and the machete is still right nearby.

But I’m not going to lie—there were moments where I wanted to quit. I came very close.

That’s what makes this machete mean so much more to me. It’s not just something I earned at the finish line. It’s a reminder that sometimes the hardest part of the journey is simply refusing to stop when every part of you wants to.

The pain passed. The exhaustion passed.

But I’ll have that reminder forever. 🪓

I want to thank the @gotimerun and @iamwithoutlimits teams for putting on an incredible event. I especially want to thank Mrs Marsha for slugging it out with me

**Before anyone comments and says it’s not a 20k. Other runners who ran this race just had 12 miles on their Strava activity.

#RunningCommunity
#RunnersOfInstagram
#RunMotivation
#cerebralpalsyawareness
#runnerwithcerebralpalsy by @potentialfulest

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2 months ago

Here's a quick preview of a later post featuring some drone footage of me surfing, thanks to the one and only @ryancassidy11.

On a more serious note, today we remember the one and only @jacob_venditti, who passed away exactly a year ago. I first met Jacob one weekend at the Palm Room fundraising event for his @livefearlesslyfoundation. Although we didn't hang out much, I appreciated him messaging me several times. He was, and still is, a legend. A few months before he passed, he won an 80-mile paddleboard race. He showed us all how to live fearlessly despite battling cystic fibrosis. This wave is for you, Jacob. Rest easy. by @potentialfulest

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2 months ago

Year to Date: 600 miles milestone achievement

#RunningCommunity
#RunnersOfInstagram
#RunMotivation
#cerebralpalsyawareness
#runnerwithcerebralpalsy taken in Wilmington, North Carolina by @potentialfulest

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2 months ago

Most people see 20K through the woods and think it’s a challenge. I see it as an opportunity. Living with cerebral palsy means every step takes extra effort—but that’s never stopped me. On August 22nd, I’m taking on the trails, pushing my limits, and chasing the ultimate prize… a machete. Let’s see what I’m made of.

Footage from a previous attempt. I think 2021. by @potentialfulest

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3 months ago

Disability Pride Month is a reminder that disability has never defined what I’m capable of—it has simply shaped the path I’ve taken.

Over the past 10 years, I’ve accomplished more than I ever imagined. I earned my bachelor’s degree in communications, traveled across the United States and internationally, built friendships and memories that I am eternally grateful for, and embraced my love for adventure through adrenaline sports like skydiving, motocross, and surfing.

I’ve always loved experiencing life and chasing the things that bring me joy. Whether it’s catching waves, riding motocross, jumping out of a plane, or pushing myself through running distances from a 5K to a half marathon, I’m grateful for every opportunity to challenge myself and create unforgettable memories.

Living with cerebral palsy means many things require extra effort, patience, and perseverance. But it has also taught me resilience, determination, and the importance of celebrating every accomplishment along the way.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m excited for everything still ahead. My disability is part of my story—but it has never been the limit of it.

Happy Disability Pride Month. Here’s to embracing who we are, pursuing what we love, and proving that our potential is far greater than the limitations others may assume.

#disabilityawareness #disabilitypridemonth #adrelinerush #runner #cerebralpalsy by @potentialfulest

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3 months ago