LETTERS OF NOTE: ‘YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IN LIFE’

Despite a horseriding accident that left him a quadriplegic, actor known to millions for his role as Superman and who died in 2004, continued to inspire. In this letter, published by the website, Letters of Note, and which is available through Facebook an

June 2, 1999 Walt Owen University Heights Middle School 1155 Massachusetts Avenue Riverside, CA 92507 Dear Mr Owen and pupils, Thank you for the letter that you sent me. I am happy to enclose a photograph, but I am unable to autograph it at this point in time because my spinal cord injury prevents me from being able to move my arm and hand to hold a pen and sign my name.

I am not going to preach to you that you should stay in school. I do want to tell you that you can do anything you want in this life if you have the determination and drive to make it happen.

An education will help provide you with the knowledge and skills that you will need to pursue your ambitions and fulfil your dreams.

You are the future. You can make a difference. Perhaps you will work in a research laboratory that will help discover the treatments that will enable me to not only sign my name, but to get up and walk again.

I wish you all the best in all of your endeavours. CHRISTOPHER REEVE (Dictated)