- April 26, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
An Ormond Beach girl with a rare genetic disease hopes to run her first mile at Tomoka Elementary's upcoming 5K.
BY EMILY BLACKWOOD | STAFF WRITER
Like many younger siblings, 7-year-old Shoshana Ravede is in awe of her big brother, Asher, especially when it comes to his extracurricular activities. The 9-year-old has run in more than 50 5Ks.
Not only has his hobby served as an energy-release for the fourth-grader, but it also has inspired his little sister to hit some massive milestones.
She is determined never to let her disease hold her back.
Shoshana was diagnosed with chromosome 16 deletion, a genetic disorder that causes extreme developmental delays. Shoshana is receptive but nonverbal, and she learned to walk only two years ago.
“She understands quite a bit," said her father, Jim, a fifth-grade teacher at Tomoka Elementary. "She’s not very verbal and, physically, she is very low. But her muscle tone is getting stronger all the time.”
It's getting so strong, in fact, that Shoshana built enough stamina to run the last 100 yards of the first Tomoka Elementary’s Tomoka Brave, Strong & Healthy 5K Run/Walk two years ago.
Kay Galloway, communications chair of Tomoka Elementary PTA, said it’s these types of milestones that make the 5K a worthy community event.
“It is a great way for our school to engage the community in one sense,” Galloway said. “Another is to encourage people to get out and move and exercise.”
Participating in the third year of the event, the Ravedes have set a new goal for Shoshana. Her brother and father are going to run the 5K, and then they plan to run back to the two-mile mark to help Shoshana run the last mile.
And of course, Shoshana is excited to run her first mile with her big brother.
“She is extremely in love with her brother,” Jim Ravedes said. “Anything he does, she wants to do. He is her No. 1 person in the world."
The annual 5K, presented by Reunion Bank of Florida, will be 8:30 a.m. Feb. 8, beginning at the Ormond Beach Regional Library. Entry fees are $25 through Feb. 7 and $20 for Tomoka students and staff. Race-day registration is $30.
To register online, CLICK HERE.
