Marla Jones, Sports Editor
RAINSVILLE, Ala.--The Rainsville Freedom Run motivates hundreds of people to get in shape in order to participate, each year.
Mark Shepherd, 57 of Henagar, had a stroke on December 2, 2020. He was unconscious for five days and the doctors did not think that he would survive. He showed he was a fighter and improved enough to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility. He was released from the rehab facility in February.
In March, he decided to make his health a priority. He began walking and in no time he was running. Shepherd worked hard to get prepared to participate in his first 5k, the Rainsville Freedom Run.
Shepherd ran the 5k with his son Jason Shepherd by his side in 30.03 minutes. He placed tenth of thirty-one competitors in his age group of males ages 50-59.
“I may not have won according to the race clock but it certainly was a win on my clock” said Shepherd.
Shepherd is almost completely recovered and went back to work eight weeks ago. He now runs 5.5 miles nearly every day. He still suffers with a little numbness in his right hand but other than that he is fine in every way. His family says he is a miracle in the making and all of us at Southern Torch would have to agree!
