Runner with MS eyes milestone at Indianapolis Monumental Marathon
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Cheryl Hile has been running in marathons for a little more than 21 years, and, in 15 of those years, she’s been doing it with multiple sclerosis.
Cheryl credits her husband, Brian, for inspiration to run in the first place and then encouragement to keep going after the MS diagnosis in 2006. Even when she developed foot drop, a neurological side effect of the disease that makes it difficult for a person to lift their leg, she still found a way to run using a custom-made device called an ankle-foot orthosis.
She would go on to become a record-setter as the first person to run a marathon in seven different continents and co-founded the nonprofit Run a Myelin My Shoes.
On Saturday, she’ll aim to reach another milestone by completing her 70th marathon at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon and reunite with her team of more than 300 supporters for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Her team members include runners from 23 countries and 43 states.
You can find more information on the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon online.