Legally blind man set to graduate from college while excelling as long-distance runner
This week, 22-year-old Alex France reaches some major milestones in life. He맥스카지노™ll graduate from Midland University in Nebraska with a degree in Youth and Family Ministry.
He graduates from Midland as one of the school맥스카지노™s most accomplished distance runners. He plans to attend graduate school and become a counselor.
맥스카지노œIt맥스카지노™s therapeutic for me. It맥스카지노™s just relaxing,맥스카지노 said France, describing the 50 to 60 miles he logs running each week.
France holds the school record in the half marathon. And he earned All American status for his eighth-place marathon finish in the NAIA National Championship last year.
These milestones are significant because France faces challenges most young men could never imagine. He started losing his vision in middle school. Legally blind, he sees a narrow field of grainy, blurry images and uses assistive technology to learn and study.
맥스카지노œI can맥스카지노™t see the end of the sentence 맥스카지노” or the word,맥스카지노 said Alex, which prevents him from traditional reading.
He맥스카지노™s used his faith and leaned on his friends, coaches, his sport and family to craft the life he맥스카지노™s always wanted. He hopes to run in the Paralympics in 2024 in Paris, France. He also has more marathons and races on his bucket list.
His attitude is to push forward, like he does in races.
맥스카지노œSometimes in life, things happen. I wasn맥스카지노™t going to let it change my life. Instead of asking why me, I ask, 맥스카지노˜Why not me?맥스카지노™맥스카지노™ France said.
Since high school, France has practiced and raced with the help of guide runners, which poses some challenges. For starters, the guide runner has to be able to run as fast as France. The two are connected by holding onto a 2-foot piece of rope. France맥스카지노™s guide runner Tim Grundmayer has logged countless miles with his buddy along with his assistant coach, Phillip Duncan.
맥스카지노œHe is so kind and confident and an inspiration to others,맥스카지노 said Duncan, describing France.
Duncan said he gives his friend verbal cues about what맥스카지노™s ahead on the course, navigating him away from pitfalls with a tug of the rope. It맥스카지노™s not without danger. France and his guide runners have tumbled in races.
맥스카지노œYou don맥스카지노™t stop. You don맥스카지노™t think about what just happened. You keep on going,맥스카지노 said Duncan. He said France never makes excuses.
Alex said losing his vision because of a genetic disease, retinitis pigmentosa, helped shape him into the person he is today. He says pushing his limits helps him to encourage others.
맥스카지노œIt맥스카지노™s been a privilege to be able to inspire people in that way,맥스카지노 he said.
Watch the video above for the full story.