HK Derryberry & Jim Bradford

HK Derryberry is a motivational speaker, born on July 13, 1990, at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He was born three months premature due to an automobile accident that claimed his nineteen-year-old mother's life. After his father abandoned him at age five, his paternal grandmother raised him. The accident and premature birth resulted in Derryberry being blind and diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

With his friend, mentor, and speaking partner, Jim Bradford, Derryberry has shared his remarkable story of resilience and determination with over 150,000 people since 2016. Their presentations, often tailored for each event, cover topics such as the impact of extraordinary memory, making a difference in a child's life, and the power of unlikely friendships. Together, they convey an inspirational message titled "If God Is In Your Life Anything Is Possible."

Derryberry's life and achievements have been highlighted nationally, including features in "USA Today," "NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt," and "The Huckabee Show" on TBN. His book, "The Awakening of HK Derryberry," is an Amazon bestseller and received the 2017 Audi Award for the best non-fiction faith-based audiobook. His life story emphasizes that "The only disability any of us have in life is a negative attitude."

In addition to his speaking engagements, Derryberry is a graduate of the Tennessee School for the Blind, where he was a cheerleader and, as a senior, was honored as "King of the Senior Prom." He served two terms on the Nashville Mayor’s Advisory Council for People With Disabilities, received Nashville’s Trey Pointer "Young Citizen of The Year Award," attended The Leadership Forum For People With Disabilities at Vanderbilt University, and graduated from Tennessee Partners in Policy Making Leadership Institute. He currently serves on the board of Miracle League Columbia, Tennessee.