Never give up. That phrase is one that 29-year-old Cheri Srour personifies. After being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome at the age of 18, Cheri never thought she would walk again- let alone finish a 13.1 mile race. But she did just that.
A Devastating Diagnosis
Cheri was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome ten years ago- a very rare neurological disease where the immune system attacks the nerves. It causes weak limbs and tingling in the hands and feet, but it can also lead to paralysis.
Unfortunately for Cheri, her illness was quite severe. She was left paralyzed and on a ventilator. Despite her diagnosis, Cheri wasn’t going to let it keep her down. With the help of physical therapy, she began moving parts of her body again.
A Woman On A Mission
Once she began seeing progress with physical therapy, Cheri decided to push herself even further. She discovered the Disney Princess Half Marathon, and in 2016 she decided to sign up for it.
With loved ones by her side, Cheri completed the 13.1 mile long race from her wheelchair. Although Cheri felt accomplished at this feat, there was more that she wanted to achieve. Instead of having her family and friends push her across the finish line, Cheri wanted to walk across it on her own.
An Unbelievable Achievement
In 2017, Cheri set yet another goal for herself. This time Cheri wanted to push her own wheelchair across the finish line.
To the amazement of family and friends, Cheri accomplished that goal and set her sights on something even bigger and better for the 2018 race. Not only did she push her wheelchair across the finish line, but her brother-in-law was sitting in the wheelchair at the time- making it much more challenging for Cheri.
A Grand Finale
With intense physical therapy, Cheri was able to achieve the ultimate goal at the 2019 marathon. She crossed the finish line without any wheelchair at all. It’s something she never though was possible, but with hard work and determination, Cheri far surpassed anyone’s expectations.
