Cerebral Palsy Victim Completes Ultramarathon

Despite rain, the cold temperature, and a foot injury, 28-year old Malaysian runner Cheng Zhee-long finished the 109-mile, 24-hour Soochow International Ultramarathon Race in Taiwan this week.

Because of the outstanding performance of six of the runners this year, the Ultramarathon was upgraded to a gold status event, one of only two in the world. But what makes Cheng’s achievement more impressive is that he’s the first athlete with cerebral palsy to complete this race, says an article in The China Post. Cheng completed the run with a victory lap, carrying the Malaysian flag. He even surprised his wife when he gave her a kiss to thank her for her support. Smiling, Cheng said he’d come back again “because I have started to love Taiwan.”

Cerebral palsy is a birth injury that affects muscle control. Depending on the severity of the injury, people born with cerebral palsy can live relatively normal lives. Because he liked the idea of competing solo without assistance, Cheng began running at age 20 and has participated in 100 marathons.

In the United States, athletes with cerebral palsy can compete in the high-profile Special Olympics. Moreover, in the United States, cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood, affecting approximately one in 303 children aged eight, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). If negligent medical care for your child resulted in a birth injury such as cerebral palsy, call us today for a free case evaluation.

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