A Sarasota father is running for a reason
Richard Lomas is helping his son who cannot walk cross the finish line.
Sammy has been fighting for his life from the moment he was born. Phelan-McDermid Syndrome is one of the most under-diagnosed forms of autism in the world.
“When they told us of the diagnosis, they said he was the eighth case,” said Lomas, Sammy’s father. “Now when they told us the eighth case, we assumed in the city of Naples where we were living. So we asked this genetics counselor and she said ‘No no.’ I said, ‘oh, in Florida?’ She said ‘no.’ I said, ‘in the U.S.?’ She said, ‘right now, worldwide.'”
Sammy needs a lot of help to get through his day. But it doesn’t stop him from competing in races in his custom wheelchair.
“We’re never gonna buy him a car,” said Lomas. “You know, that chair up there was about 4 or 5 thousand. And I said, ‘That’s his car.'”
Sammy’s dad Richard began running competitively at 45 to find something that he and Sammy could do together.
“He likes movement, and he likes music,” said Lomas. “So, whenever we get going, and the music’s going, you know he’s able to…he’s just really happy.”
While other parts of Sammy’s life might be complicated by his condition, running with his dad just makes sense. Sammy always finishes a second before him, and he wouldn’t have it anything other way.
To show your support and learn more about Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, check out pmsf.org. To see the rest of the story, check out runnersbroadcastco.com.
