Only five freshmen got the chance this year to cheer for the
University of Arkansas. With flawless moves, a winning attitude,
and a zebra print prosthetic leg, Patience Beard is one of
them.
“It’s always a challenge, always pushing yourself,” says Beard,
18, whose left leg was amputated before her first birthday.
Jean Nail, director of spirit squads for the U of A, couldn’t
help but notice Beard’s leg in the full-length photograph attached
to her application for the 24-member squad. “I was really kind of
surprised, but excited about it too,” she said. Nail immediately
viewed Beard’s audition DVD. She knew the girl had what it took to
compete in live tryouts, but wouldn’t grant Beard any special
treatment.
Beard wouldn’t need it. She has cheered competitively in her
home town of Texarkana, Texas, since the seventh grade and always
dreamed of being a college cheerleader. While still a senior in
high school, after the grueling auditions, Beard cheered her first
game — a spring football scrimmage — in front of 40,000 Razorback
fans. If she was nervous, she didn’t let it show. In fact, no one
even paid much attention to her leg until the local news ran a
story about her.
Former college level cheerleader Sheila Harrell and her daughter
watch the University of Arkansas games — and the cheerleaders
— together. “Stunting is hard work for those with two legs,”
Harrell said. “She makes it look effortless.”
Longtime Razorback supporter Amber Lanning didn’t notice Beard’s
prosthetic right away. Once she did, she was impressed and now she
appreciates Beard’s influence as a role model for her children.
“They are able to witness for themselves that anything is
possible.”
That’s Beard’s favorite part: helping others see what’s
possible. “It’s more than just yelling out cheers,” she says of the
sport she loves.
Beard was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency, a
non-hereditary disease of the hip and femur bone that leaves one
leg shorter than the other. Beard’s case was severe enough to
require amputation of her left leg before her first birthday, and
another surgery in the third grade that left her in a full body
cast for eight months.
Still, her parents encouraged her to ride a bike, play T-ball,
and participate in gymnastics. Beard credits them with instilling
confidence and treating her as if she could do anything. “They’ve
always pushed me to do the best I can do and never let me give
excuses ever,” she said.
They refused to label her as handicapped, while acknowledging
the other kids’ natural curiosity. The once sent Beard to
kindergarten "show and tell" with her older brother so everyone
could see her leg, and see that she was just like them in every
other way.
The Football Writers Association of America recently nominated
Beard for their Discover Courage Award, but she’s simply happy
to inspire. And the university is thrilled to have her. “She’s
Patience,” says Nail. “She’s a member of the squad. We expect the
same from her that we expect of everyone else. No more, no
less.”
Beard balances cheer practice and multiple games a week with
classes in pursuit of a communications degree. So what’s really
tough for this high achiever? Choosing what fabric to have
laminated to her prosthetic leg. “That’s probably my hardest life
decision,” she jokes, calling the zebra print an expression of her
outgoing personality.
Beard hopes to become a motivational speaker one day, putting
her experience rallying crowds to good use. “Everyone goes through
obstacles,” she says. “The people who feel good about themselves
are the ones who go for their dreams.”
