Touching Moment: Marines Help North Georgia Man Across Marathon Finish Line

It was special commemoration this weekend in Washington as the city marked the 40th Anniversary of "The People's Marathon," the Marine Corps Marathon. But it was a much more personal accomplishment for a north Georgia man that has touched many people’s hearts.

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A video shared with FOX 5 News shows a man pushing a sports wheelchair to the finish line, but stopping just feet away. What happens next is just simply moving, but knowing the story behind it may bring you to tears.

Jon Crais suffered a traumatic brain injury after a car crash nearly 22 months ago. He emerged after a 3-month coma to start his long fight back. One of the things he always wanted to do was to run a marathon.

That’s where Thomas Odom came into the picture. He was paired up Crais through the help of a north Georgia charity. The two were sent to the Marine Corps Marathon with the aid of Connectability, The Ability Experience, and the The Kyle Pease Foundation.

About 26 miles and 383 yards into the marathon, just two yards short of the finish line, Thomas stopped running. Flanked by three Marines, Jon is unstrapped from his chair, and in an act of heroic persistence, he is helped across the finish line on his own two feet.

In a Facebook post shared with FOX 5 News, Mallory Smith Odom called the experience "a small glimpse into the unbelievable world of assisted athletes."

Learn more about Jon and his journey: firstgiving.com/team/302001

If you would like to learn more or donate to help other assisted athletes:

Connectability: connectabilityinc.org/learn-about-us

The Kyle Pease Foundation: kylepeasefoundation.org

The Ability Experience: abilityexperience.org