Man with paralyzed arm inspires hundreds on Nike run

EUGENE, Ore. - Ultra-endurance athlete Jason Lester finished a 4,800 mile run at the Nike store in Eugene Wednesday afternoon.

A group of almost one hundred stood with signs welcoming the Hawaii resident to Eugene after running almost 5,000 miles in 102 days.

The run is part of Nike's "Journey for a Better World Tour" that helps enforce their commitment to serving the needs of athletes and the planet.

Lester was thrilled to make it to the finish line and see the sunshine in Eugene.

"We've been dreaming about Eugene for over 100 days," Lester said.

He may look like your typical athlete, but there is something you should know about Lester.

"When I was 12 years old I was riding my bike at a crosswalk and a lady ran a red light and I suffered 21 broken bones, a collapsed lung, a paralyzed right arm," Lester said.

But Lester did not let his arm stop him from competitive sports. In fact, at 15 years old he developed a new passion for running.

"We all face adversity and challenges in life," Lester said. "I just took it into a positive role instead of a negative role."

Now he is signing autographs in front of the Nike store after finishing an almost 5,000 mile trek from New York to Eugene.

"It seems superhuman," said Suzy Riedman, a Eugene resident inspired by Lester's endurance. "Not many people can do that."

Riedman met Lester while living in Hawaii.

"I was amazed watching him swim with one arm," Riedman said.

Now she said she is even more inspired by this cross country journey.