"I think that what my dad and my mom would be so proud of the three of us for is that we dedicate a lot of time and energy," Will Reeve said.
Christopher Reeve known for playing the famous role of Superman has been the man of every DC fan’s dreams. The actor however had a life of immense personal struggle after he survived a great fall during an equestrian ride resulting in paralysis down his neck. Reeve knew that post his accident in 1995 he had two choices, either to stay dejected or put the fame and love he got from fans for a purpose. The actor chose the latter and became an icon for his three children who contributed to their father's Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and get along pretty well as per PEOPLE.
The Hollywood actor turned into a committed campaigner after his accident. He used the moniker "Man of Steel" to highlight the severity of his injuries. "I felt I needed to do something – not just for myself but for everyone else in the same condition. Even if I had wanted to (which I didn’t), I would never be able to forget the other patients I had met during rehab. I had seen too much of their struggles and pain. I couldn’t go home, devote my life to myself and my family, and ignore the larger picture," the late actor revealed his vision as per the website of the organization.
Christopher's children have gathered numerous times since his passing to honor the actor's legacy despite being step-siblings. They frequently promoted his foundation even though none of them were fans of him as an entertainer.
"Hope in Motion," a documentary about Reeve's journey with paralysis, was finished in 2007 by his son Matthew, a producer, and director. Meanwhile, Christopher's daughter, Alexandra, chose to work as a lawyer and adjunct professor, unlike her brothers, who pursued careers in the movie and television industry. She became a member of her father's foundation's board of directors and was also appointed the Center for Democracy & Technology's President and CEO in 2020. The three siblings went to a gala in 2013 to support the parents' foundation, per PEOPLE. They talked to Glenn Close, Christopher's former co-star, as well as the friends and admirers of their parents.
Will, the youngest amongst the siblings and son of Dana Reeve remarked, "I think that what my dad and my mom would be so proud of the three of us for is that we dedicate a lot of time and energy to the Reeve Foundation." He added, “I love keeping their memory alive.” He was only 13 when his father passed away and was an ABC News correspondent. He is happily dating Maverick Ventures investor and Yale alumna, Lexi Henkel. To raise money for his parents' foundation, he ran the New York City Marathon in 2016. He joined Team Reeve as one of about 50 runners. His quota was $30,000, and their goal was to raise $500,000 for the foundation. As per reports William only had a brief encounter with his dad, but during that time he taught him some important life lessons.
The foundation's management includes a fair amount of work from Matthew and Alexandra, born to their mother Gae Exton, first wife of Reeves. Any father would be pleased and proud of his children pursuing such lofty goals while taking his legacy further and the Reeve siblings are setting up an example.
Reference:
https://people.com/movies/christopher-reeve-son-will-reeve-remembers-dad-15-years-after-death/
https://people.com/celebrity/christopher-reeves-children-love-isnt-about-the-hugs/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) D. Morrison; (R) Frederick M. Brown
