Health
Woman with muscular dystrophy completes 12 marathons in wheelchair for charity: ‘Won’t let it define me’
Born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, Peri Finkelstein has never let her disorder define her.
Instead, the 24-year-old New Yorker has used her challenges as a springboard to make the world a better place, completing 12 marathons to raise funds for charity.
In January 2024, Finkelstein’s nonprofit organization — the Team Peri Foundation — exceeded the $1 million fundraising milestone for its Chai Lifeline project, which offers support to families following an illness diagnosis or trauma.
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Making an impact
Muscular dystrophy is a group of more than 30 genetic conditions that affect the functioning of the muscles, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Peri Finkelstein, 24, has raised more than $1 million to help children with deadly diseases, partly through her marathon events. (Team Peri Foundation)
Finkelstein’s form of the condition, called nemaline rod myopathy, causes severe muscle weakness and affects her speech and mobility.
Despite her physical limitations, she was inspired to start doing marathons in 2010 when her mother and brother began running them for charity.
“After watching everybody do the marathon and cheering from the sidelines, I knew that I wanted to make more of an impact,” she said during an interview with Fox News Digital.
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For the first few years, Finkelstein’s mother pushed her in a jogging stroller with all the necessary medical equipment secured to the bottom.
Then, in 2016, Finkelstein decided it was time to stand up and walk a few steps over the finish line, with the help of her physical therapist and her parents.
Finkelstein heads toward the finish line of a marathon in Miami, Florida, in February 2024. (Team Peri Foundation)
“At that moment, it felt as if I could do anything that I put my mind to,” she said.
“It was a defining moment, when I realized the only person who could get in my way was myself — and that it was up to me to change my life.”
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In subsequent marathons, those initial steps turned into walking more than 1,000 steps, then a mile, and then a mile and a half, forwards and backwards across the finish line.
After several years of pushing that “extra mile,” Finkelstein experienced medical challenges in 2022 that made her unable to compete.
“It never dawned on me that part of my life would be over,” she said.
“You have to push yourself to the limit for each mile marker, as nothing will ever come easily.”
“Once I officially lost that part of myself, I realized that I couldn’t allow this setback to get to me — I knew that I had to keep moving.”
Instead of competing physically, Finkelstein now funnels her energy into her foundation’s fundraising efforts.
Finkelstein’s form of muscular dystrophy, nemaline rod myopathy, causes severe muscle weakness and affects her speech and mobility. “Not every day is all rainbows and sunshine,” she said. (Claudio Papapietro)
“Since I was 8 years old, my dream was to launch a nonprofit organization of my own,” she said.
“The same mindset that I used to prepare both physically and mentally for a marathon is what I carry into my daily life as an entrepreneur.”
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The Team Peri Foundation strives to make the world a “more connected and inclusive place for all,” Finkelstein said, with the mission to “educate others on the power of inclusion and to disrupt the stereotypical views revolving around disability.”
‘Not all rainbows and sunshine’
While Finkelstein strives to stay positive and focus on her goals, she acknowledges that her day-to-day life isn’t always easy.
Finkelstein’s family and friends support her during a marathon in Miami. (Team Peri Foundation)
“Not every day is all rainbows and sunshine — some days are harder than others, to the point where severe migraines, fatigue and pain keep me from doing what I have to do,” she said.
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Finkelstein undergoes different forms of therapy multiple times a week, has frequent doctor’s appointments and is “always in pain,” she shared.
Her social media posts highlight the highs and lows.
Finkelstein is pictured with her parents, Paul and Lori Finkelstein, on the day her foundation hit the $1 million fundraising mark in January 2024. (Team Peri Foundation)
“My hope is that by sharing bits and pieces of my world — portraying all the different sides of me, whether it’s rather dark or filled with light — I can portray that people with disabilities can live a full life and step out of line in ways that can change the course of their future,” she said.
To other people living with a disabling condition, Finkelstein advises them, “Use your rareness to your advantage.”
“My time is precious and I still have a lot more to accomplish.”
“Growing up, I would give anything to blend in and become invisible, as being ‘different’ put a lot of labels on me that caused me to be bullied severely by students and teachers alike,” she said.
“But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized it’s OK to be rare.”
Finkelstein is pictured with her siblings, Katy Finkelstein (right) and Joel Finkelstein, in January 2024. She credits her family with supporting her through all her endeavors. (Barbara Quagliard)
Life itself can be compared to the dozen marathons she has competed in, according to Finkelstein.
“You have to push yourself to the limit for each mile marker, as nothing will ever come easily,” she said.
“All the pain, traumas and setbacks are what enable you to keep going and keep hustling.”
“You have to power through the pain, because there is no other option.”
Future goals
Since hitting the $1 million milestone, Finkelstein and her foundation have launched new projects, including a scholarship fund in partnership with Adelphi University, where she earned her MBA in marketing.
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She also works to boost awareness and education through speaking engagements, social media and podcasting, and hosts various fundraising events throughout the year.
Finkelstein plans to write and publish a memoir to share her life’s journey with the world.
“It’s always in the back of my mind that I cannot wait to live my life — because of physical disability and medical challenges, it could be cut short,” Finkelstein said. (Team Peri Foundation)
“While I used to be an athlete, I am still just as competitive and am somewhat of an overachiever in the real world,” Finkelstein said.
The entrepreneur is also acutely aware that life is short.
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“It’s always in the back of my mind that I cannot wait to live my life — because of physical disability and medical challenges, it could be cut short,” she said.
“My time is precious, and I still have a lot more to accomplish.”
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Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.
In a post on Substack titled “The Day I’ll Never Remember,” she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.
“I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president,” she wrote.
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The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.
“I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended,” she said.
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. (Getty Images)
John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.
After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. “I could tell something was off,” he wrote. “It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there.”
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At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.
An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but “Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent,” Molner wrote.
John Molner, Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels, also shared his account. (Getty Images)
“She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’”
Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.
“The cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself.”
It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.
“[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience,” Molner said.
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Couric said she finally began feeling “like herself” again around 9 p.m. and went to sleep at 2 a.m.
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.”
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.” (Getty Images)
Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.
The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a “temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories,” Couric shared.
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“Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels.”
Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.
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Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.
“Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself,” Couric wrote.
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. (iStock)
“All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’”
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“While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.
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Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
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The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
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“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
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This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
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“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
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