DANVILLE – Last year, D.J. Gregory walked all 3,256 holes of the 2008 PGA tour.
On Monday, it was nine holes at Turtle Run Golf Course in Danville.
And while in town, the 30-year-old Savannah, Ga., man and author of "Walking with Friends" did what's he's done for much of his life: Inspire youth and adults alike to overcome obstacles, set goals and work hard to achieve them.
"I've gone through a lot of challenges in my life," said Gregory, who has cerebral palsy and walks with a cane. "I'm here today to tell you that through hard work, anything is possible. Don't let anyone tell you (that) you can't do something."
Gregory was invited to town by the Danville Public School Foundation to share his story. On Monday, he spoke to Danville High students and members of Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and AMBUCS service clubs. Later, he spoke to the public at Turtle Run, where he snuck in a round of golf. Today, he's speaking to middle school students.
Through an ESPN video and his presentation, Gregory told students he was born 10 weeks premature with underdeveloped lungs. While in the neonatal intensive care unit, he was given too much oxygen, which burst capillaries in the portion of his brain controlling the lower extremities.
"It's one of the reasons I walk with a cane," he said.
When Gregory was 2 years old, doctors told his parents he would never walk. Undeterred, the Gregorys continued to consult with other doctors. After undergoing five surgeries on his legs before he started school, Gregory learned to walk with walkers, then two crutches, then one crutch, then a cane.
"They didn't take no for an answer, and I don't take no for an answer" Gregory said. "I'm a very determined individual. It could also be known as being stubborn."
A "huge" sports fan, Gregory learned to play golf at age 9, swinging his club with one hand and using the other to balance himself on his cane. His dad took him to his first PGA tournament at age 12.
"I fell in love with it from the start," Gregory said, explaining golf was the one sport he could play competitively. "It was always my dream to attend every PGA tournament and get to know the players on a personal level."
Gregory, who by then had a master's degree in sports management, thought of a way to make his dream a reality: He would walk every hole of the 2008 PGA tour. With encouragement from CBS golf commentator Jim Nantz, who had become a friend, he asked the PGA commissioner for permission.
"They jumped on board almost immediately," recalled Gregory, who followed one professional golfer during each tournament, interviewed him and then blogged about the experience on the PGA Tour Web site.
In January 2008, Gregory started out walking the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii, with his dad, Don, by his side. By the last tournament in Lake Buena Vista, Fla, he had walked more than 900 miles on 44 courses in 45 weeks and had gone through five pairs of specially designed shoes.
"When you set goals, it's not always easy. There will be bumps in the road. I did fall," Gregory said, adding his goal was to fall only one time or less per week.
"I'm proud to say I came in at 29," he said, drawing cheers and applause from students. "It's how you handle those bumps, those falls. ... If I fall, I fall. It's just another challenge. You get back up, and you learn from those mistakes."
Along the way, Gregory gained the admiration of professional golfers and developed lasting friendships with some, including Kenny Perry. He also garnered attention from local and national media outlets.
"I didn't do this to get attention," he said. "But I came to realize I could motivate and inspire people to set goals. And if I can inspire one person to set goals and achieve their dream, then that is pretty awesome."
Students said he did just that.
"He gave me so much in the little amount of time he was here," said Danville freshman Ladina White, who thanked Gregory for sharing his story. "I want to be the first girl in the NFL. I've had tons of people tell me that won't ever happen. He's taught me to go for it, and never give up."
"I want to be an astronaut and go to the moon," said Latina White, Ladina's twin. "I know it's going to take a lot of hard work. But he said (that) if you have a dream and you work hard, anything is possible. That's what he did. It had to take so much courage for what he did, and he did it."
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