Who is Jo Lodder
“Imagine thundering towards a fence on a thoroughbred horse, heart racing with adrenaline and the excitement of the race. But in the blink of an eye, another horse cuts across your path, and you're thrown from your saddle, crashing to the ground at 50 kilometers per hour. That was the moment that changed everything for me, Jo Lodder, when I suffered a broken back that ended my career as a professional jockey. But it was a tragic accident involving a friend and the horse I was supposed to ride that made me truly appreciate how lucky I was to be alive.
“Embrace change, and you'll rewrite the story of you life”
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to make a drastic change. I was overweight and living an unhealthy lifestyle, so I turned to running and charity challenges to transform myself and help others. It was during this journey that I founded Run for Freedom, a movement dedicated to helping disabled individuals overcome obstacles and live their fullest lives. And in 2023, I made history by running the 5 trails in 5 days, becoming the first person ever to achieve this feat.
Through all of life's ups and downs, I've never lost sight of my values and vision. Whether I'm speaking at schools, universities, private clubs, corporations, or religious groups, I hope to inspire others to find their own path, overcome their own obstacles, and live their own version of freedom.
“If all I achieve in life is that I have given more than I have taken then I will have succeeded”
