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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Scientists and physicians agree that there’s been a general decline in male fertility — but they aren’t sure why.
Social media buzz has pointed to a few environmental exposures as potential factors, including cellphones and electric vehicles.
But the reality is “more complicated” than that, according to experts who recently spoke to National Geographic.
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Although it’s not clear whether the decline is at a stage where it should be considered a crisis, numbers show that overall fertility — demographically measured by the number of babies born compared to women of child-bearing age — has decreased.
Scientists and physicians agree that there’s been a general decline in male fertility. (iStock)
Dr. Alex Robles of the Columbia University Fertility Center in New York confirmed that clinical practitioners are “certainly seeing more couples where the male factor contributes to infertility.”
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“At least one-third of couples we evaluate have some male component,” he told Fox News Digital.
A 2017 meta-analysis published in Oxford Journals: Human Reproduction Update found that sperm counts in Western countries have declined by almost 60% globally since 1973. The 2023 update confirmed these same results.
Urologists can track declining fertility in sperm quality, while demographic data uses the number of babies born compared to women of child-bearing age as a benchmark, according to National Geographic. (iStock)
Lead study author and epidemiologist Hagai Levine warned that this trend could lead to human extinction if it isn’t addressed.
“This is the canary in the coal mine,” Levine, public health physician at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health, told National Geographic. “It signifies that something is very wrong with our current environment, as lower sperm counts predict morbidity and mortality.”
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These findings have been contradicted by other studies, however. A 2025 Cleveland Clinic analysis of studies from the last 53 years found sperm counts to be steady.
“There is no evidence to suggest that this decline is the cause of a precipitous decline in the ability to cause pregnancies,” primary study author Scott Lundy, a reproductive urologist at Cleveland Clinic, told National Geographic. “Most men, even with a modest decline in sperm counts, will still have no issues conceiving.”
Potential factors of decline
Multiple lifestyle factors can lead to a decline in male fertility, Robles noted, including obesity, smoking and diet, as well as environmental exposures and delayed parenthood.
National Geographic also reported that heavy drinking and marijuana use directly contribute to declining fertility and that quitting these habits, while also exercising and losing weight, can help.
Smoking of any kind can contribute to a decline in fertility, according to experts. (iStock)
Systemic inflammation, infection and disease can also have a “big, profound effect on the current status of fertility,” Lundy told National Geographic.
Those who are getting over a fever from an infection, like the flu or COVID, will have a “drastically lower” sperm count for three months, he said.
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Male infertility can also be a marker of overall health, according to Robles. “Poor semen parameters are associated with other medical conditions and may signal underlying metabolic, hormonal or environmental issues,” he told Fox News Digital.
Experts recommend seeing a doctor to discuss fertility concerns instead of relying on the internet. (iStock)
Allan Pacey, deputy dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester, told National Geographic that the decline could be caused by increased use of contraception, as well as men waiting longer to have children or choosing not to have them at all.
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Microplastics have also been raised on social media as a potential culprit, but the effects are unclear, according to experts.
There is some evidence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals — which are substances found in reusable plastics and some disposable products — altering male fertility, Lundy revealed to National Geographic.
Myths busted
Concerns have circulated on social media that keeping a cellphone in a front pocket could harm male fertility. While Lundy said such an effect is biologically possible, there is currently no scientific evidence supporting the claim.
Another common myth is that infertility is mostly a women’s issue, Robles noted, but male factors contribute to about one-third to one-half of all cases.
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The claim that taking supplements can boost sperm counts is another common myth, he said, adding that it’s not backed by strong scientific evidence.
“Men should focus on factors that we know matter: maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol and managing chronic health conditions,” Robles advised.
One common myth is that infertility is mostly a women’s issue, but male factors contribute to about one-third to one-half of all cases. (iStock)
Experts recommend seeing a urologist to address fertility concerns. Robles said his approach begins with an evaluation, semen analysis, hormonal testing and medical history, while also exploring lifestyle factors.
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In addition to traditional treatment options, Robles said his fertility center also uses advanced tools that incorporate AI and robotics.
“Technologies like this are expanding options for patients who previously had very limited paths to biological parenthood,” he said.
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Study finds link between obesity and vascular dementia
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss an increase in colon cancer in people under 50 despite an overall lowering cancer deaths and a new study linking obesity to vascular dementia.
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A new blood test could determine a woman’s dementia risk as early as 25 years before symptoms emerge.
That’s according to new research from the University of California San Diego, which found that a specific biomarker protein associated with early pathological processes of Alzheimer’s disease was “strongly linked” to future dementia risk.
The researchers analyzed blood samples from 2,766 participants in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study in the late 1990s, according to the study’s press release.
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The women ranged from 65 to 79 years of age and showed no signs of cognitive decline at the start of the study.
After tracking the participants for up to 25 years, the researchers concluded that the biomarker phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) was “strongly associated” with future mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
A new blood test could determine a woman’s dementia risk as early as 25 years before symptoms emerge. (iStock)
Women who had higher levels of p-tau217 at the beginning of the study were “much more likely” to develop the disease. The findings were published today in JAMA Network Open.
“The key takeaway is that our study suggests it may be possible to detect risk of dementia two decades in advance using a simple blood test in older women,” first author Aladdin H. Shadyab, a UC San Diego associate professor of public health and medicine, told Fox News Digital.
“These biomarkers may help us identify who is at greatest risk and develop strategies to delay or prevent dementia.”
“Our findings show that the blood biomarker p-tau217 could help identify individuals at higher risk for dementia long before symptoms begin,” he added.
This long lead time could open the door to earlier prevention strategies and more targeted monitoring, rather than waiting until memory problems are already affecting daily life, according to Shadyab.
A specific biomarker protein associated with early pathological processes of Alzheimer’s disease was “strongly linked” to future dementia risk. (iStock)
“As the research advances, these biomarkers may help us identify who is at greatest risk and develop strategies to delay or prevent dementia,” he said.
This risk relationship wasn’t the same across the board, however. Women over 70 with higher p-tau217 levels had “poorer cognitive outcomes” compared to those under 70, as did those with the APOE ε4 gene, which is a known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
The study also found that p-tau217 was a stronger predictor of dementia in women who were randomly assigned to receive estrogen and progestin hormone therapy compared to those who received a placebo.
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“Blood-based biomarkers like p-tau217 are especially promising because they are far less invasive and potentially more accessible than brain imaging or spinal fluid tests,” said senior author Linda K. McEvoy, senior investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute and professor emeritus at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, in the release.
“Blood-based biomarkers like p-tau217 are especially promising because they are far less invasive and potentially more accessible than brain imaging or spinal fluid tests,” a researcher said. (iStock)
“This is important for accelerating research into the factors that affect the risk of dementia and for evaluating strategies that may reduce risk.”
Blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease are still being studied and are not recommended for routine screening in people without symptoms, Shadyab noted.
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More research is needed before this approach can be considered for clinical use prior to cognitive symptoms.
Future studies should investigate how other factors — like genetics, hormone therapy and age-related medical conditions — might interact with plasma p-tau217, the researchers added.
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“The study examined only older women, so the findings may not necessarily apply to men or younger populations,” Shadyab noted. “We also examined overall dementia outcomes rather than specific subtypes such as Alzheimer’s disease.”
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