ASA Athlete honors Grandfather by running in the 50th anniversary Marine Corps Marathon
ASA Athlete Terrence Ridley is excited to be running in the 50th anniversary Marine Corps Marathon to honor his grandfather, Master Gunnery Sergeant Leon Lewis Jr. Terrence will race alongside his Wingman teammates through Athletes Serving Athletes and complete the marathon together. ASA’s mission is to enrich the quality of life for individuals living with limited mobility by empowering them to train for and participate in mainstream running events alongside their volunteer runners.
Meet Master Gunnery Sergeant Leon Lewis Jr:
Master Gunnery Sergeant Leon Lewis Jr was born March 1945 in Baltimore, MD. He grew up in Onancock, Virginia with his mother’s family and returned to Baltimore to attend college before going into the Marines. He served for 32 years. He started out in North Carolina then went oversees to Vietnam before returning back to the US to serve in the reserves. After which, he retired from the Marines. During his active-duty time he remembers traveling as well as competing in the Marine Corps Marathon.
Meet ASA Athlete Terrence Ridley:
Terrence Ridley is an athlete with Athletes Serving Athletes. He was born in 2000 and joined ASA in 2008 to experience the thrill of participating in mainstream running races in Baltimore City. Terrence now races all across the mid-Atlantic region with his Wingmen! Terrence has Cerebral Palsy due to a brain trauma before birth. He cannot walk and is non-verbal but communicates with his engaging facial expressions and a communication device. He is always the most enthusiastic person at an ASA Group Training Run or Race! Whenever you see Terrence at a race, he will be playing music on his speaker and ringing his cowbell to encourage his teammates while they run! In addition to running, Terrence loves playing lacrosse, baseball, and bowling. He loves to paint flowers in the garden and play the drums or guitar. Food, people, and music make him happy. He loves playing video games with his brother, Tariq.
This year, as Terrence crosses the finish line, he will be honoring his biggest cheerleader, his grandfather. Terrence will have a team of 4 Wingmen volunteers who will push him in an adaptive racing jogger and together, Team Terrence will run the 26.2 miles to honor Master Gunnery Sergeant Leon Lewis Jr!
