After suffering debilitating accidents earlier in life, Marka Danielle Rodgers and Adam Gorlitsky both finished a race that would challenge the fittest athlete. The catch? They are both essentially paralyzed.
Adam was able to finish the 6.2-mile race across the Cooper River Bridge in Mt Pleasant, SC with the help of a robotic exoskeleton.
@IGotLegs843 still trucking pic.twitter.com/3adXVxcG3x
– Matt Alba (@mattalbaWCBD) April 2, 2016
10-years-ago, Adam was injured in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. With the help of family, friends and his “I Got Legs” team, Adam made 17,932 steps in 7 hours to finish the 6.2-mile race.
@IGotLegs843 making his way up the steepest part of the bridge. Wind is kicking up. He’s a fighter. @WCBD pic.twitter.com/LncRmHUpDf – Matt Alba (@mattalbaWCBD) April 2, 2016
Paraplegic Adam Gorlitski @IGotLegs843 is making his way up the Ravenel Bridge. Absolutely incredible. @WCBD pic.twitter.com/Tlv4943RSz
– Matt Alba (@mattalbaWCBD) April 2, 2016
Adam told News 2, “[Training] started in mid-August; maybe 6 1/2 months, seven months later….here we are!â€
Right now they’re switching out the batteries in Adam’s exoskeleton. He’s not done! Inspirational. @WCBD #bridgerun pic.twitter.com/RfFcXkWb68 – Matt Alba (@mattalbaWCBD) April 2, 2016
@IGotLegs843 Adam Gorlitsky making his way up the bridge! @WCBD pic.twitter.com/ePhg3bceFw
– Matt Alba (@mattalbaWCBD) April 2, 2016
Marka, a former ballerina and breast cancer survivor suffered two spinal cord accidents -one in ’94 and another in ’12 that left her an incomplete quadriplegic.
Years of rehabilitation and hard work called Marka to challenge herself like she never had before. Marka completed the 6.2-mile race a little over 2 hours
The Post and Courier
In a race that draws nearly 30,000 participants every year, Marka and Adam felt love and encouragement from everyone around them.
“Everyone was so nice and supportive,”said Marka in a post-race phone interview. “I’m overwhelmed and have been fighting back tears all morning.”
For Adam, the event was more than just a race, “I really truly feel like this is the first step, no pun intended, the first step to the rest of my life.â€
Epp-Jsweb
Marka and Adam are an inspiration to us all. And the technology that helped them accomplish this feat is nothing short of miraculous. So thankful to live in today’s day and age.
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