White Plains' Norris Runs Marathon for CMT

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Charlie Norris was inspired to run the Philadelphia Marathon by his nephew Michael Gene Falcone, who suffers from Charcot-Marie-Tooth, a muscular atrophic disease known as CMT.

Sunday, with 12-year-old Michael and other family members cheering him on, Norris completed his fundraising run in a time of 4-hours, 6-minutes despite a cramp that nearly ended his run.

“The race went well,” said Norris, who lives in White Plains as does Michael Gene. “I had support all along the course. I cramped up during the 23rd mile and had to stop and stretch. But I dug deep, thought about Michael Gene and what he deals with every day, and got it going again and finished strong.”

Michael was diagnosed with CMT at age 7 and wears corrective support braces to help keep his legs straight, but continues to live as normally as he can, even playing tackle football for the White Plains Tigers. His Uncle Charlie has joined the effort to raise awareness about CMT.

Norris, who is a Greenburgh native and local attorney, joined others in the CMT cause, including Jude Burton, a married mother with an infant who lives outside of Philadelphia in Valley Forge, Pa. 

“Jude Burton has CMT,” Norris said. “Although her legs are a bit wobbly, and her ankles weak, she completed the half marathon in 2:39.”

Norris said the fundraising is continuing and he is waiting for an accounting from Kim Magee of the CMTA Association with the latest total raised by those who ran for CMT.

“As I crossed the finish line, I looked down to hit the stop button on my watch,” Norris said. “When I looked up, Michael Gene and his dad had somehow worked their way into the finish area and were standing directly in front of me. We hugged and took pictures.”

To view the YouTube video or for more information on how to contribute to Charlie Norris’s marathon fundraiser log on YouTube and search “Team MGF Donation Video” 

Those who wish to donate may do so in the name of “Team MGF” on line at www.smtausa.org/index.

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