Trent Clayton

Challenge: Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Sports: Track and Field, Swimming, Air Guns, Triathlon, Biking

Bio: Trent Clayton is the kind of kid who will try anything once. This includes exploring new food, new places, and new athletic endeavors! He is a self-proclaimed foodie and loves the opportunity to try unique flavors and also enjoys creating dishes for his family. Trent is in to science and technology, he’s currently creating 3D printed items to help people with physical challenges. He also likes to game on his computer when he isn’t attending school or working out. Trent attends a performing and fine art charter school where he enjoys theater, vocal and pottery classes. He has performed in several plays and musical productions.

Trent was just a baby when an MRI found a huge mass in his brain. He was rushed for emergency surgery where they discovered the mass was actually a collection of blood (a hemorrhagic stroke). His family would later learn that he has a condition that causes lesions in his brain called Cerebral Cavernous Malformations. These lesions are known to bleed spontaneously and he has had many hemorrhagic strokes throughout his lifetime and a total of three brain surgeries. He also has a bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand’s Disease creating the perfect storm so to speak, since when his brain bleeds it doesn’t clot well. Trent infuses with clotting factor 3 times a week, he is learning to start his own IV to allow him to be more independent.

Trent discovered a love of track and field when he was 7 years old. He currently likes throwing the best, especially discus! He has competed in several triathlons and was thrilled to attend the CAF Junior Triathlon camp in 2017 which was an amazing experience and the highlight of his summer! Due to balance issues, Trent hasn’t been able to ride an upright bike, however, this summer one of his goals is to learn. Being able to ride an upright bike will give him more opportunities to compete in triathlon and bike events in the future. Trent currently competes with his middle school track team and the adaptive sport team he helped start up through the Pennsylvania Center for Adaptive Sports. He is excited to compete at Adaptive Sports USA Junior nationals again this year, for the 8th consecutive year!