Story of Hercules: Boy with cerebral Palsy inspires book

CTV Toronto Published Tuesday, February 4, 2014 7:43PM EST Last Updated Tuesday, February 4, 2014 8:35PM EST

A Toronto school is celebrating a remarkable student whose battle with cerebral palsy has not only taught his classmates a valuable lesson about acceptance, but has also inspired a book about his young life.

Hercules Stergiou is like any other Grade 1 student at Bowmore Road Junior and Senior School -- full of energy, always smiling and playing around with his friends.

The one thing that sets Hercules apart is the fact he has cerebral palsy -- a congenital disorder that affects muscle control and movement.

For Kristina Stergiou, Hercules mom, sending her son off to school for the first time was an emotional and challenging experience.

It was very scary. I think the biggest fear for us was kids picking on him and him not being accepted, she told CTV Toronto.

Despite her fears, Hercules was embraced by students and staff at the school and thrived in his kindergarten class.

Hercules story was so inspirational that his principal, Thelma Sambrook, decided to write a story about the boys first year in school -- a story that has now been published into a book: "All About Me -- Hercules."

I wanted it to be a positive story so that all families felt that school and kindergarten was a great place to be no matter what the childs abilities were, he said.

The school celebrated Hercules story and the launch of the book with a touching ceremony at their school on Tuesday.

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Story of Hercules: Boy with cerebral Palsy inspires book