An unsung hero
February 21, 2018
1 win away: Lady Trojans among several locals 1 step from State Title
February 21, 2018
When a Houma woman became an Angel Runner, the athlete she helps became her motivation for self-improvement.
Angel Runners are volunteers who push athletes unable to fully use their own legs or feet due to disabilities but still wish to compete in 5K races and other events.
On March 11, Sunny Downer will be volunteering for Ainsley’s Angels, a group of helpers based in Virginia Beach who have a Louisiana chapter. She will be pushing Matthew Denicola, 18, with cerebral palsy in the Our Lady of the Lake’s Amazing Half Marathon.
“Their hearts are all into it. There are so many who can’t do it, and I have a body that’s willing and able,” she said. “Its about putting everything aside and not thinking about yourself for 13.1 miles.”
Sunny’s story began seven years ago when she began making important life changes and took up running as part of her regimen. She said she made a promise to God to live her life to the fullest.
Two years ago. Sunny began running long distance races with her husband. Last year, while struggling through the Our Lady of the Lake’s Amazing Half race she watched the Ainsley organization pushing athletes.
“When you see the participants in the chairs, with the biggest smiles… it’s all about them.” she said. “I think, what’s my excuse for not doing this?”
To answer this question, she became an Angel Runner for the organization and began a fundraiser to sponsor a custom-built wheelchair for Matthew.
Matthew’s step-father, Landis Manchester, explained that prior to receiving that wheelchair – which had safety features such as straps and cushions – he and his wife Julie would walk him through 5k races on their own using a regular wheelchair. They couldn’t run using those wheelchairs, but the custom chair worked well.
Matthew can currently use a walker for short distances, but Landis said the illness forces muscles to be constantly tightened, similar to flexing one’s arm, and that doctors predict in 2 or 3 years the illness will progress, at which point Matthew will no longer be able to use the walker.
Landis said this doesn’t stop Matthew.
“He’s 110%,” Landis said. “He gives everything he can and does everything he wants to do.”
Matthew is in his second year of college, focusing on Mass Communications, at Baton Rouge Community College. His goal is to become a sports announcer.
Many able-bodied people take for granted their mobility, said Sunny.
“If they don’t have the want to get off the sofa for themselves, how great is it to do it for someone else?” he said.
In preparation for this event, Sunny, who is a mother of two, has been pushing her three-year-old, Huntington, in a stroller for half practice, and occasionally her 11-year-old, Lola, runs with her at times as well.
Even with all this preparation, Sunny will have her husband, Blair Downer, by her side to take over if she gets too tired
“I think its good for the kids to see us committed to this – helping others,” she said. “It’s about getting Matthew across that finish line.”
Ainsley’s Angels was founded by Kim Rossiter, a Marine whose daughter was diagnosed with infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy just before turning 4-years-old.
Ainsley, his daughter, jogged in a road race in 2008 and from that point on running provided the family with a means for coping with her circumstances. Although Ainsley has since died, the organization continues to use her memory as an example to help others.
