Berry started Thursday at 8 a.m. and ran until crossing a banner finish line as students cheered him at the end 0f his 34-mile marathon run at 2:30 p.m.
Berry, whose church is on the same expansive campus as the pre-K through 12 school overlooking Interstate 75 in Middletown, knew he was tackling a big campus. And 34 miles later he had lapped the campus dozens of times.
And he did it all in sunny, unseasonably hot 90-degree plus weather.
Afterwards he put his arms around West, who is recovering, and said “this summer we watched him (West) suffering through several health difficulties with 38 of the 80 days of summer (break) in the hospital.”
“Every time I went down there (hospital) he was upbeat, and he was encouraging us. We love him and he is a brother in Christ. This was one way to help him cover some of those medical expenses he dad,” Berry said.
West was emotional after Berry finished his run.
“It’s unbelievably emotional, especially with how hot it is today and how long he ran for. But it makes you remember how great the world really is and how many good people there really are around it,” said West. “It’s simply amazing.”
Officials at Middletown Christian Schools, which enrolls 419 students, said they are continuing to accept public donations on West's behalf at the school's website middletownchristianschools.square.site
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