Little Ironman more than just a good time

By Collin Brooks

Even the smallest people can have a huge impact on those around them.

That was the case with Josh Adcock, who battled Schimke Immuno-Osseous Dysplasia —an extremely rare form of dwarfism until he passed away in May 2013.

Even with the disease, which resulted in short stature, kidney failure, bone marrow failure, seizures, strokes and a shortened life expectancy, Josh smiled until his final breath, according to his father Terry Adcock.

“He just loved people,” Terry said through a smile. “Even when he was on dialysis for 20 hours a day, what he cared about was who was coming to see him today. He just wanted to spend time with people and I figure that helping people is a great way to carry his legacy on.”

But even though Josh is gone, he is still having that same large impact on his family and friends. It’s evident by the following that shows up to participant in an event to honor Josh each year with the Little Ironman Fun Walk, Mud Run 5K.

The 5th annual Little Iron Man Fun Walk, Mud Run 5K started five years ago and has been bringing smiles to participants faces ever since. This year’s event will be held on August 20 at Sulphur Springs Baptist Church at 1567 Gray Station Sulphur Springs Road. The Mud Run starts at 3 pm, with the 5K starting at 5 pm. Registration for both events will begin at 2 pm.

The event was put together a couple of month’s after Josh’s passing in 2013, when Carter-Trent Funeral Home General Manager Brent Warner approached the family about wanting to keep Josh’s memory alive.

“He said he’d like to help carry on his legacy and offered to host a special event, which started out as a 5K run,” said Terry, who also noted they put together the first event in under three months.

The first event brought in 500 people. The next year they started the mud run for the course. In the third year, they invited the adults into the mud pits. Now families of all ages are invited and required, Terry mentioned, to enjoy the time they spend with their family while they complete the course.

Terry and his family and friends started the P.H.I.L. (People Helping In Love) Foundation in 2010, after Terry’s brother Phil Adcock passed away after a battle with cancer. During Phil’s final months, Terry and friends were able to raise close to $20,000 for his brother to help with any expenses. Three year’s later, Josh would succumb to his ailments.

The mission then was to help his brother, now the group’s goal is to provide financial and emotional support for any family that is experiencing medical hardships.

“We’ve been there,” Terry said of his family. “We do it to help and I feel like that is what God has called us to do, serve.”

Terry said that this event is also a way to keep Josh’s memory alive.

“When you lose a child, the biggest thing you think about is that you don’t want people to forget them,” Terry said. “People may not realize, but we enjoy talking about (Josh). Some people are hesitant to bring him up, but we love to talk about him.

“We just don’t want him to be forgotten.”