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Orange Park man finds strength in disability
By Horace Davis, Staff
hdavis@jcpgroup.com
ORANGE PARK - Often times when we hear of someone born with a handicapped or a disability, we as human beings feel hurt, pain or sorrow for the individual, and rightly so.
However, one Orange Park man does not want anyone to feel any of those emotions for him, Josh Dillaberry has Cerebral Palsy. In spite of the debilitating disability this 34-year old man is a champion Wheelchair Bodybuilder.
When this champion in life and bodybuilding was born doctors told his parents that their son would never walk, talk or lead a normal productive life because of water on the brain.
Against seemingly all odds, Dillaberry not only can talk but he walks for short time spans and when not training for various wheelchair competitions, he also drives a Chevy Astro Van.
"I believe my cerebral palsy could have been worse but thanks to God and my determination, I am able to walk around my house, drive and do other things as needed."
The married father of a six-year old daughter decided to start lifting weights at twelve-years old and has never looked back, "As a young teenager, I spent a lot of times falling down because of the weakness of my legs. My upper body was pretty strong from wheeling around but I decided why not strengthen my upper body even more, so if I fell I could at least lift my self up."
Cerebral Palsy (also called CP) generally affects body movement, balance, and posture, loosely translated, cerebral palsy means, brain paralysis.
CP is caused by abnormal development or damage in one or more parts of the brain that control muscle tone and motor activity (movement).
Dillaberry faced this diagnosis but he has not let it stop him, if not at home you can find this determined man at one of two facilities working out.
"I train several times a week at Lifestyles Fitness Center on Wells Road and at Fox Valley Gym on Kingsley Ave. Working out is like a breath of fresh air for me, it's like being at home away from home," he said.
The Jacksonville native who has lived in Orange Park since 1980 credits friends Billy Frazier and Phil Ricardi for inspiring him to enter wheelchair bodybuilding competitions.
"Both of those guys used to train at the Orange Park Sports Complex in 1994 near the high school and they saw me training and talked me into entering a competition in Daytona Beach. The rest is history."
The champion bodybuilder only has one regret and that is not being able to play quarterback or linebacker for Orange Park High.
"I graduated in 1991 and always loved football but could only play touch football to a limited extent, so I missed out on fulfilling one of my dreams of being the starting quarterback for the Raiders. However, I made up for it by doing a little wrestling and weightlifting with those teams," said Dillaberry.
Although he spent most of his senior year in a wheelchair after one of approximately 25 surgeries in his lifetime, Dillaberry was determined to walk on stage and receive his diploma at graduation.
"It was tough, but determination won out. I was asked would I walk up to get my diploma? I told the principal, yes I would. With limited walking capability I did it, however, I did not have the strength to walk back down. But I accomplished what I set out to do."
This determined man who according to doctors was suppose to live in a vegetative state wants other stricken by CP or anyone willing to listen to know. "Life is already hard enough and too short. We have to make the best of it, knowing that life is never over as long as you are breathing. Find something you love and do it."
Dillaberry, who can also been seen at various nightclubs spinning his ?wheels' on the dance floor to other partygoers amazement, is looking for sponsorships from anyone interested in helping him continue to fulfill his passion.
He has another show on August 26th, the Debbie Kruck Classic at the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach and is the returning champion.
To find out more about that event or more on wheelchair bodybuilding visit www.wheelchair-bodybuilding.com
Here is a list of Josh's bodybuilding achievements,
2006 Wheelchair Nationals - NPC, 1st - Heavy Weight
2005 Debbie Kruck Classic - NPC, 1st - Wheelchair
2005 Wheelchair Nationals - NPC, 2nd - Heavy Weight
2004 Wheelchair Nationals - NPC, 4th - Light-Heavy Weight - Open
2004 Wheelchair Nationals - NPC, 3rd - Light-Heavy Weight - Novice
1998 Jax Physique - NPC, 1st - Wheelchair
1997 Wheelchair Nationals - NPC, 2nd - Light-Heavy Weight
1996 All-Star Classic - NPC, 1st - Wheelchair
1996 Mr. Florida - NPC, 1st - Wheelchair
1996 Wheelchair Nationals - NPC, 3rd - Light-Heavy Weight
1995 Greater Gulf States - NPC, 3rd - Wheelchair
1995 Wheelchair Nationals - NPC, 4th - Light-Heavy Weight
1994 Wheelchair Nationals - NPC, 5th - Light-Heavy Weight
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