2020 Boilermaker Wheelchair Challenge unlike any other

Just before the sun came up over Utica, Thomas Dane of Burlington flats and Amber Desjardins of Plattsburgh prepared to take on the 9.3 Mile boilermaker wheelchair challenge in their own personal chairs.

Wheelchairs after completing this year's boilermaker wheelchair challenge.

This year's race went virtual due to the pandemic.

News channel 2's brent kearney shows us a wheelchair challenge unlike any other.

Just before the sun came up over utica, thomas dane of burlington flats and amber day- jardin of plattsburgh prepared to take on the 9.3 mile boilermaker wheel chair challenge in their own personal chairs.

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None .

None "it's going to be my longest race that's far and running since i started running races for years ago.

I was really mad and with this year got canceled and came back we get this chance it's a great feeling to be out here.

Each have their own stories "i was born with cerebral palsy as a baby and i've been using a wheelchair often on my whole life."

"i got paralyzed 5 years.

It was a car accident march 27th 2015.

And i've kind of been wanting to compete in this since i heard about it."

They both have 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the 9.3 mile course.

Utica police escorting them through every mile.

Amber's friend tuesday running by her side.

The support we've had from shipman mark and citrine in the utica police department.

Everybody has been giving us the ability to pull this off and it's really up to the two participants now.

And then right at 6'o clock 3,2,1, go!

They were off, nats mile by mile, family and friends supporting them i'm out here supporting thomas i know he's been training hard for it.

Last year i know he had an injury so he's really anxious to get out here and he's doing fantastic.

Looking forward to seeing him at the finish line.

As the clock ticked down, the finish line got closer and closer.

I'm so excited for both tom and amber to be able to get through this and come out here.

We talk about boilermaker spirit in changing peoples lives in a positive way and boilermaker spirit what do you see this morning is perfect it embodies it perfectly.

2 hours later, thomas crosses the finish line, waiting him was his wife, as well as a medal.

I thought i was going to go find myself thinking it was worse than it really was and it turned out to be less than i expected.

We're still a lot 9 miles but i felt great i'm looking forward to doing it next year.

No to long after, amber crossing the finish line.

It was absolutely a handful but i overcame a lot of obstacles through it and finished.

And did so with a strong message to the world.

"if you have a goal go for your goal and just never give up."

The virtual boilermaker officially kicks off on tuesday.

In utica brent kearney news channel 2 coming up on the other side of the break.....president trump visits hurricane-ravaged louisiana....where