SoulFul- 8 Arianna

MOTHER/DAUGHTER DUO TACKLE ADAPTIVE RUNNING, MAKE DISABILITIES DISAPPEAR

In a way, distance runners create their own magic.
They pull miles and miles out of their hats, and in full stride, they make energy gels seemingly appear out of thin air.

Dedicated runners are able to multiply race bibs like white rabbits (though many wish they could multiply those hard-to-come-by safety pins, too).In one of their greatest acts, the mother/daughter running duo known as Team Ari, has figured out a way to make disabilities disappear. Kelli Tanghe, and her 15-year-old daughter, Arianna, created Team Ari, all out of a simple desire to run together.

Up and Running

Born with cerebral palsy and being visually impaired, Ari endured numerous hospital visits and physical therapy appointments as a young child.Kelli made a promise to herself through it all.In 2006, Ari started walking by herself, so Kelli laced up her sneakers extra tight, and got to running.

 

Both mother and daughter got to experience a new way of getting around in their worlds.With her husband, Michael, and her two oldest children, Lindsay and Nick, who were heavily involved in high school athletics, Kelli had some good support and motivation as she tipped her toes into the water.

In fact, Nick paced her in her very first 5K.Kelli enjoyed it so much that she stretched her legs into the world of half marathons, marathons, and even a couple of 50-mile ultra races.

In her eyes, one of the real perks of running was being able to run with Lindsay and Nick.The only problem was that because they didn’t have the necessary equipment, Ari wasn’t able to accompany her mom on the roads.

However, she never let up on asking to go.Disappearing DisabilityAri entered middle school in 2012, and it was a very difficult time for her.

“She wasn’t able to keep up with her peer group,” Kelli said. “She was becoming much more aware of her disabilities. We were trying to help her and figure out what she could do where she wouldn’t have to sit on the sidelines anymore.”

Despite not owning an adaptive running chair, Kelli wasn’t going to wait until they could afford it, so she signed up for a 5K and pushed Ari in her wheelchair.

Serendipitously, the race benefited their local children’s hospital — where Ari had spent countless hours during her childhood.

No Stopping Now

Because Ari loved running with her mom, she kept asking to go longer and longer distances.

An adaptive running chair was a must, so the family found room in the budget.

Two weeks after their 5K, they did a 10K.

“Then Ari said, ‘Let’s do a half marathon,'” Kelli said.

Within a month, the two crossed the finish line of their first half together.

Kelli plans on using the money to acquire a chair that can be towed by a bike, and then convert to an adaptive running chair.

Until then, they’ll keep rolling along, letting the magic fill the air, all the way to the finish line — which actually is just another start line for Team Ari.

Sources- Value.com

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Isn’t that just so spectacular! 🙂 I love reading such stories. It always leaves such a tingle to my spine. What is disability? It is a matter of choosing your perspectives. With the right one, you will get what you want. Because ‘no’ does not exist in your vocabulary.

What have you been wanting to do and kept on ppprrroooccrraassttiinnaattiinnnggg on?

The moment is here.

ACT NOW! ;p

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ON your Joylight! 🙂

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