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Runner with muscular dystrophy completes Boston Marathon in 20 hours

Posted at 8:07 PM, Apr 21, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-21 21:44:34-04

BOSTON, Ma. — Michael Melamed received a medal from Mayor Marty Walsh of Boston after finishing the Boston Marathon at 5 a.m. the day after the race began.

Melamed has muscular dystrophy and it took him 20 hours to complete the course. He was the last athlete to finish the 26.2 mile race, and he did so amid rain, wind and cold.

The 39-year-old Venezuelan man told WCVB that he faced the challenge to give hope and inspiration to others.

“The message here is that love is so much stronger than death,” he said to WCVB. “It was an honor to the run the streets of this city.”

This was the fifth marathon he has completed, but he said the Boston one held a special place since his parents brought him to the city for treatment.