"Carry On" - Free event with Lisa Fenn, Dartanyon Crockett, and Leroy Sutton

Lisa Fenn, Dartanyon Crockett, and Leroy Sutton will hold a free event at the Carlisle Public School's Corey Auditorium on Friday, June 1, 2018, 7-9pm for a one-hour speaker program followed by a book signing. Meet the members of this unlikely family and hear their story of resilience and redemption.

Carlisle Public School, Corey Auditorium
83 School St.
Carlisle, MA 01741

Carry On will inspire anyone up against long odds, embolden those wanting to become agents of change, and captivate those looking for a gripping underdog sports story. It is a memoir that weaves the complexities of poverty, disability, race, and family into a tender tale of redemption.  Above all, it demonstrates the change we can bring when we are willing to enter into another’s world.

The Concord Bookshop is preselling Carry on: A Story of Resilience, Redemption, and an Unlikely Family for those who wish to read the book ahead of the event.  For your convenience, you may:

  • phone the Bookshop at 978-369-2405
  • order via our website

You may either pay via credit card online (or over the phone), or indicate that you'll pay for the books when you pick them up - we'll have them ready for your on our "hold" shelf (near the Young Readers section, toward the back of the store).

More about the speakers:

Lisa Fenn: A three-time winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award and a six-time Emmy Award–winning feature producer with ESPN for thirteen years, Lisa interviewed every big name in sports. Today she is a sought-after public presenter, speaking on leadership, poverty, and transracial adoption, in addition to her Christian faith and its relevance in both her media career and her daily life.

 

 

 

Dartanyon Crockett: Dartanyon lives in Colorado Springs where he trains full-time as a U.S. Paralympian in the sport of blind judo.  (He won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Paralympics and is the 2014 IBSA Judo World Champion.)  Dartanyon is also pursuing a degree in social work, aspiring to work with children from underserved communities. He serves as an athlete ambassador for UNICEF, the Challenged Athletes Foundation and the U.S. State Department.  He travels frequently to speak to school and professional groups. 

 

 

 

Leroy Sutton: Leroy grew up in Ohio neighborhoods rife with drugs and violence. In 2001, at the age of 11 he was struck by a train, which led to the amputation of both his legs. Instead of giving up, Leroy demonstrated an astounding ability to get up and carry on, an attribute that would continue to push him into his adult life. Sutton excelled in high school wrestling in multiple weight classes – finishing his senior season with nine wins.  He went on to compete at the 2010 Paralympic Powerlifting World Championships in Malaysia where he finished 10th.  Leroy was the first in his family to graduate from high school and now holds a college degree in video game production.  He is employed at Electronic Arts. 

About the sponsor: C3 Events are sponsored by Carlisle Congregational Church in Carlisle, Massachusetts. Past speakers have included Donna Freitas, researcher and author of The Happiness Effect, Dr. Rick Sacra, medical missionary and Ebola survivor, and Joni Eareckson Tada, author, radio host, and founder of Joni & Friends.

Event date: 
Friday, June 1, 2018 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Event address: 
Carlisle Public School, Corey Auditoriam
83 School St.
Carlisle, MA 01741
Carry On: A Story of Resilience, Redemption, and an Unlikely Family By Lisa Fenn Cover Image
$27.99
ISBN: 9780062427847
Availability: usually available in 3-5 business days
Published: Harper Paperbacks - August 8th, 2017

In the spirit of The Blind Side and Friday Night Lights comes a tender and profoundly moving memoir about an ESPN producer's unexpected relationship with two disabled wrestlers from inner city Cleveland, and how these bonds--blossoming, ultimately, into a most unorthodox family--would transform their lives.

When award-winning ESPN producer Lisa Fenn returned to her hometown for a story about two wrestlers at one of Cleveland's toughest public high schools, she had no idea that the trip would change her life. Both young men were disadvantaged students with significant physical disabilities. Dartanyon Crockett was legally blind as a result of Leber's disease; Leroy Sutton lost both his legs at eleven, when he was run over by a train. Brought together by wrestling, they had developed a brother-like bond as they worked to overcome their disabilities.

After forming a profound connection with Dartanyon and Leroy, Fenn realized she couldn't just walk away when filming ended; these boys had had to overcome the odds too many times. Instead, Fenn dedicated herself to ensuring their success long after the reporting was finished and the story aired--and an unlikely family of three was formed.

The years ahead would be fraught with complex challenges, but Fenn stayed with the boys every step of the way--teaching them essential life skills, helping them heal old wounds and traumatic pasts, and providing the first steady and consistent support system they'd ever had.

This powerful memoir is one of love, hope, faith, and strength--a story about an unusual family and the courage to carry on, even in the most extraordinary circumstances.