100%.

That’s how much effort it takes Arthur to lunge his body across a pit of sand and land feet-first. His sport fights against gravity and the odds, much like he has.

A Philadelphia native, Arthur’s youngest memories include struggling in the school system and worse at home. Under a recommendation from a Masonic Children’s Home alumnus and teacher, Arthur moved to the children’s home in 2009.

Since then, when a defining moment in the young man’s life requires his all, he gives his all (and then some).

In January, thanks to a donor, Arthur, a Bloomsburg University student, visited Puerto Rico with the university’s track and field team to train outside of Pennsylvania’s frigid weather. Besides practice, he and his teammates spent the week of a lifetime snorkeling, cave dwelling and exploring the rain forests.

How Good Is Arthur?

It seems every time there’s an answer to that question, the 2014 Masonic Children’s Home alumnus breaks another record. In high school, he broke Elizabethtown Area School District’s standing long jump record by one inch, jumping 21 feet 9 inches, and during his freshman year at Bloomsburg, he beat his personal record with a leap of 22 feet 4.9 inches.

During his 2016 season, the college junior took 4th in the long jump at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) indoor session and won the championship at the PSAC outdoor session. He was the first male long jump champion for Bloomsburg in 51 years, which he claims was a “pretty cool feeling.”

Throughout his expansive training and recognition, Arthur remains a gracious athlete who just enjoys his sport.

Children’s home staff always knew Arthur was something special and worked hard to help him find the perfect school, one that had a strong balance between athletics and education. Although he prefers athletics, Arthur has been working hard academically and is looking forward to graduating with a bachelor’s degree in public relations.

“We had daily study sessions growing up [at the children’s home], and I used to complain about being tired from practice, but it only prepared me for life as a student athlete,” Arthur recalls. “Masonic instilled in me that academics always come first.”

Only time will tell if Arthur has the opportunity to continue his track and field journey after graduation, but donors and friends at the children’s home will be rooting for him all the way.