Abbey Lanier was born with a degenerative retina condition. As a New Yorker, living without her sight can be tricky, particularly as a woman who enjoys long runs around the city. That can be tricky even for those of us without additional hoops to jump through. But Lanier has some help: Her incredible guide dog helps her navigate the city and subway, as well as move between destinations with ease. And another friend helps her train for her marathons — with a special added bonus.
Tessa Wehrman is an athlete and marathon runner who volunteers with nonprofit group Achilles International, which helps disabled athletes train for various competitive sports. “Today, this non-profit organization has chapters and members in over 65 locations within the United States and abroad,” says its website. “Every day, in parks, gyms, and tracks all over the world, Achilles provides athletes with disabilities with a community of support.”
Abbey and Tessa share a special bond. They’ve done more than more than thirty endurance runs together — more than most of us can claim. But their deepest bond is that both of these incredible women are survivors of cancer, and prove that friendship can be found in the most unlikely of places.
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