"Don't be a prisoner of your past but a pioneer of your future." Victor Vermeulen is one of the most extraordinary
motivational speakers in the world. Until a few years ago, he was one of those wonder kids that you would read about in the newspapers.
He excelled in everything he did from academia through to sport.
His academic brilliance brought him offers of bursaries from schools far and wide, and his sporting achievements saw him playing first team soccer and rugby for the best part of his senior school years. By the time he left school he was playing cricket for Transvaal and had already played at Lords in London. He was the up-and-coming star of South African cricket.
Victor Vermeulen had everything going for him until tragedy hit, not once but twice, in 1992. At the beginning the year, Victor's father, who was his mentor and hero, was murdered, and then six months later, Victor had an accident that left him a quadriplegic for life. He was at a barbecue and dived into a nearby creek, unaware it was so shallow. He broke his neck and was instantly paralysed. However, Victor does not dwell on his problems and disabilities. Tragedies of this kind often leave people angry and resentful, but not him. He has chosen to be positive and thankful that he has life. The lessons we can learn from Victor are invaluable.
Imagine life where, for all intents and purposes, you are trapped in a body that cannot and will not move, not now and probably not ever. Imagine a life where you cannot go anywhere without assistance, cannot sit up or sit down, drink water without help or breathe without thinking! This is what Victor has to live with day in and day out. And while living like this, you still have to challenge your mind and stay positive. Could you do it? Well Victor does, with passion, enthusiasm and, to top it all, a great sense of humour.
Victor’s presentation will send you on a roller coaster emotional ride that will leave you with respect for this special human being. Not only respect for him as an individual, but sheer admiration for his mother, without whom he could not live.
“Words fail me in describing the way I felt after hearing Victor speak, he is a wonderful inspirational person.”
Douglas Lee, Awards World Magazine
“It was quite incredible to hear someone who has had the most harrowing experiences but today is an inspiring person to those lucky enough to listen to his speech.
Lucy Baker Penguin Events Ltd
“One of life’s real heroes – his message is simple, moving and powerful”
Bear Grylls, Youngest Briton to climb Mt Everest