Fletcher Cleaves

Following a life-altering event, he discovered a passion for public speaking and began to

promote the importance of safe driving and overcoming adversity through special appearances

including: College Game Day, ESPN TV, ESPN radio, SportsCenter, Outside the Lines with Bob

Ley, and a National Safety Transportation Board (NSTB) event in Washington D.C., as well as at many schools, colleges, sports teams, community organizations, and businesses.

His journey began in the fall of 2009. During this time, he was a lively freshman enjoying his first semester of college on a football scholarship at Lambuth University when, suddenly, everything changed. On September 10, 2009, He was involved in a tragic car accident caused by a distracted driver, who was suspected to have been texting while driving. This event left him paralyzed from the chest down, and he was challenged with the task of starting his life over. Now, a quadriplegic, he had to relearn everything in order to adjust to his new circumstances. After a year of intense rehabilitation, he decided to re-enroll in school at the University of Memphis, where he attained a degree in Computer Science.

Everyone has a story. Some are blissful, while others are tragic. Fletcher's, on the other hand, is full of triumph. He desires to share his experiences with hopes that more people feel empowered to endure difficult times and continue to fight for their dreams. To many, his accident seemed like the end of a young man’s promising future, but on the contrary, it became the prologue to his destiny. Sure there were times when he wanted to give up, but he made a choice to overcome his challenges, believe in a prosperous future and motivate others to do the same.