Born with a form of muscular dystrophy, Peri Finklestein was told at an early age that she’d never walk and no amount of physical therapy could help her. But she and her family were determined to prove her doctors wrong, which is how Peri wound up at the 2016 Miami Half Marathon with an admirable goal: to cross the finish line after taking 1,000 steps.
Peri, her family and friends made the trek from her home in West Hempstead, New York, to Miami for the walk. Her team raised $62,000 for Chai Lifeline Camp Simcha, a camp for kids with medical challenges. When it came time to do the actual walking, Peri, 13, not only propelled herself forward, but did so while dragging her ventilator, which weighs about 10-15 pounds.
Leading up to the marathon, Peri explained how she’d take on the challenge: “You don’t think about how your feet hurt, or your back hurts. You think about who you’re doing it for and why you’re doing it,” she said. — kveller via jta