Linda Down

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Linda Down is a girl born with cerebral palsy. She completed the 26.1 mile 1982 New York Marathon on crutches, because of her lack of motor coordination as well as muscle spasticity.

At the White House reception, October 27, 1982, Ronald Reagan welcomed her with the thought that

"no one in that marathon showed more heart and more courage. Linda, the victim of cerebral palsy, is more familiar with the word 'victory' than 'victim'. She did the 26 miles of the marathon in 11 hours -- the first person ever to attempt to do that with the aid of crutches. And, Linda, if all of those people out there wouldn't say I was being political, I'd say you truly 'stayed the course.'"

[edit] External links

• Reagan's speech