Physical Wellness

Man With Lung Disease Completes A 26.2-Mile Marathon While Towing His Oxygen Tank

By Samantha Goodwin | Update Date: Nov 29, 2016 10:20 AM EST

Evans Wilson, a 62-year-old man with pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension has set a new example of courage, strength, and perseverance. The former competitive runner, who suffers from a terminal lung disease, completed a 26.2-mile marathon while towing his oxygen tank during the entire walk.

It took Wilson 10 hours and 55 minutes to complete the marathon, a little longer than the 5 hours other people took. He began the race at 6 A.M. local time and was accompanied by his wife, according to a KOMO-TV report. The couple was pleasantly surprised when they were handed their medals and told the time. Wilson was estimated to complete the race in 14 hours, rather than 11, the station reported.

Wilson told the station that he was taking part in the race to raise $50,000 for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation as the "disease is incredibly underfunded." He also said that his doctors had advised him against taking part in the marathon.

"It's not good for my heart to do marathon-like work," Wilson told the station, after the race. "My doctors have cleared me but they're not thrilled about it."

However, this is not the first time the 62-year old has beaten the odds. Wilson has been living with both conditions for five years when the median survival time is about three years. 6 people in Wilson's PF support group died from the ailment, earlier his October.

"You don't have any Pulmonary Fibrosis survivor parties because there aren't any," said Wilson in an earlier report. "It's a terminal disease. Some people it takes quicker, some it takes longer, but the end result is all the same."

Though the former runner used to be able to run a mile in under 5 minutes, the Seattle Marathon was the first marathon Wilson had taken part in.

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