Woman with muscular dystrophy completes 12 marathons in wheelchair for charity: ‘Won’t let it define me’

Peri Finkelstein isn't letting her disability define her. The MBA grad and advocate has raised more than $1 million to help families with children battling deadly diseases. 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. FATHER CREATED A DRUG TO SAVE HIS SON FROM A RARE DISEASE, NOW OTHER FAMILIES ARE DESPERATE TO GET IT 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.