From April to December, she prepared for the race by weight training and doing core work to boost her stability.
, a nonprofit that helps people with disabilities find jobs or pursue their dreams.
“The most inspiring part of this year’s Santa Run, bar none, was Mena making her way down the final stretch of 10th street and crossing the finish line,” Race Director Casey Parisi told. “It was extremely moving and just an honor to be a part of her remarkable feat. Opportunity Village is proud to know Mena and the entire Hawkins family and is grateful for their contributions to our organization.”
From April to December, she trained mostly in the gym with her father, Roger, focusing on weight training and core work for stability for when she uses her walker. She walked, too, but never as far as a full mile before race day. On December 7, she started in the back of the pack and followed the crowd down 10th Street in Las Vegas. With the support of her extended family that came in from England, where Hawkins was born, and total strangers who were inspired by her efforts, she made her way to the finish line with her“People just kept coming up and saying how proud they were that I could do it and to just keep going,” Hawkins said. “They were cheering for me and chanting, ‘Go Mena.
With the cheers and chants, Hawkins was able to cross the finish line in 38 minutes—more than 40 minutes faster than her first attempt. She also exceeded her fundraising goal of $500 by
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