If Nick can do it, I can too! - Micaela Hersee

This weekend  I had the opportunity to attend a 5K in the town next to mine. The 5K in Bellingham took place Sunday morning at ten in the morning. On a normal weekend in April the weather would be in the mid 60's with a chance of rain. Not this weekend. As we all know this weekend was a taste of summer. It had already reached 80 by the time the race started.

Now I am not a runner, but the people running this race really motivated me. There were children, teens, young adults and older adults. I couldn't help but thinking if they can do this I can do it too! As I continued to watch the crowd run past at the start I couldn't help but notice a older couple at the end sporting a neon green shirt that said " If Nick can do it , we can too!" I had no idea who Nick was but I was impressed that this couple was walking holding hands in support of whoever Nick was.

Twenty minutes later runners are beginning to trickle across the finish line. Both young and old seemed unaffected by the heat as the crossed the finish line in under twenty minutes. Participants were given an hour to complete the race and as it inched closer and closer to that time alloted I could not help but wonder where the people in the neon green shirts had disappeared to.

Moments later the you can see a handful of people wearing green shirts coming down the final stretch. Leading the way was a young boy, running as fast he can towards the finish line. As it turns out this young boy was Nick and he could not have been more than 8-years-old. As Nick crossed the finish line pumping his fist in the air it became apparent that Nick suffered from a disability. The exact disability but it seemed as though he had Downs Syndrome. This amazing little boy had completed a 5K road race in under an hour with his family by his side supporting him. The look on both his face and his Dad's said it all. It showed strength, courage, happiness and pride. The mood and feel of the whole crowd was indescribable as Nick and his family completed the race. You can not help but feel proud of this little boy and feel his happiness. He surely brought a smile to my face!

Next year I hope to run the 5K road race. I am not a runner but if Nick can do it, I can do it too.