By LISA HERMAN
[email protected]
Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a condition that causes the joints to be crooked and stiff at birth, was the diagnosis provided when Duaine and Joan Foley’s son, Ward “Scarman” Foley, was born with clubfeet and clubbed hands, without hip sockets and many muscles and tendons, and with very little chance to live.
At the age of 2, he learned to walk with the help of specially-made braces that were required to be worn 24 hours a day. By the time he was 24 years old, Foley had survived more than 30 surgeries. After agonizing rehabilitation and years of ridicule and humiliation, his strong will to live has been tested many times over the years. He was severely burned in a 400-degree fryer, was beaten up by teenagers he was trying to help, and, at age 24, was hit and nearly killed by a drunk driver.
The journey hasn’t always been smooth, and thankfully it hasn’t prevented Foley, also known as “Scarman” from doing what he was ultimately meant to do in this life: raise awareness and inspire people from all walks of life, with all types of stories, to accept and love themselves. This Sunday, September 9, the first-ever Scarfest Kansas will be held at the Norton United Methodist Church, and the event, which will feature superscar speakers, pizza, and games and activities for all ages, will serve to unite and allow those in attendance to celebrate their scars, their disabilities, their differences, their lives, and the lives of all others.
For the past 40 years, Ward “Scarman” Foley has presented over 1,200 speeches worldwide, and has sold or donated tens of thousands of books while trying to spread hope throughout the world. “I was taught from an early age that while there is a lot I’m not able to do, there is a lot I am able to do,” Foley says. Foley says one of his greatest accomplishments in life was not overcoming his birth defects and the physical pain from surgeries and assorted mishaps, but rather it was surviving the accompanying bullying and humiliation that ultimately allowed him to learn to accept and love himself.
From this acceptance came the creation of Scarman, a blank doll that would allow children to draw their own scars on in hopes of beginning to love and accept themselves just the way they are. “Scarman was created from some of my scars, but he represents all of us,” Foley says. “We all have scars. Some we can see and some we can’t. Scarman is about empowering children and adults alike to see a glimmer of hope in the darkest of places. Especially from within.”
Through the years, Foley’s journey to spread his message of hope, courage, and self-acceptance, while providing support, friendship, and unconditional love, has allowed him to accomplish great feats and meet people from all walks of life. In 1986, Foley rode his bicycle across the United States, from California to Alabama, for a surprise visit to his aunt, Mary Kay Woodyard. As a show of appreciation to Woodyard – who now resides in Norton – for helping him in his journey to self-acceptance, Foley pedaled his way along while his friend, Steve, followed closely behind in a car. The journey was demanding, but nothing was about to stop Foley from achieving the success of his cross-country ride.
Cars honked and people waved as Foley approached the final few blocks. Police officers on motorcycles led the way, and a news crew was waiting on Woodyard’s front porch excited to point out Foley as he rode up to her house. With a warm embrace, Foley realized what an accomplishment he’d managed to achieve. A dream had become a reality.
A year after his cross-country journey, Foley again made the headlines when he rode his bike across Canada in order to raise awareness for Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita. In August of 2015, he embarked on his third cross-country journey, Ride with Hope, to bring his message of acceptance, hope, and love across the pond to England. His ride began at Bristol Harbor, in Bristol, England, and ended in Hyde Park, in London, where he met with families from all over Europe.
“I cannot express the importance for children and their parents to know one another,” Foley told the Norton Telegram before embarking on his journey. “Meeting others with the same condition and challenges is truly joyous. It helps people to feel far less isolated and to have greater reasons to be hopeful as they join together to support one another. Families who felt frightened and alone now feel as if they’re part of one large, loving family.”
Donations received through the establishment of a fundraising campaign to support the logistics of Ride with Hope also aided in the purchase of Scarman dolls and coloring books for children. Over the years, Foley’s Scarman dolls have gained worldwide notoriety, and have been given to thousands of children in over 40 different countries. Appropriate for all ages, his 20+ page Color Me Scarman coloring books further promote his message of hope and acceptance. Foley’s 164-page memoir, Thank My Lucky Scars, has positively impacted and influenced countless lives locally, and the book has been enjoyed by many Norton Junior High School students as part of their MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support) Reading Class curriculum.
While this Sunday’s Scarfest Kansas is the first of its kind in northwest Kansas, Scarfest events have been held worldwide for many years. Scarfests are one-day festivals which bring families together to share their stories, make new friends, and bring hope and awareness to one another. Past Scarfest events have been held in San Diego, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; Atlanta, Ga.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and Dallas, Texas, while international Scarfest events have been hosted in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Fort St. John, Canada; Bogota, Colombia; London, England; Paris, France; Munich, Germany; Mexico City, Mexico; and Madrid, Spain.
Scarfest Kansas will begin this Sunday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m., and will be held at the Norton United Methodist Church, 805 West Wilberforce, in Norton. An afternoon of fun has been planned, and those of all ages are invited to come enjoy pizza, superscar speakers, games, and activities. The Norton Police Department and Norton City Fire Department will also be on site with a police car and fire engine youngsters may look at and sit in. Throughout the afternoon, those in attendance will unit to celebrate their scars, their disabilities, their differences, their lives, and the lives of others. The event will end at 6 p.m.
For more information about this Sunday’s Scarfest, e-mail Ward Foley at [email protected] or call 785-871-0219.