By STU CLAMPITT
news@readthereporter.com
Longtime readers of The Reporter will know the story of Amy Shinneman, which we have been covering since 2019.
Shinneman was born with an undiagnosed neuromuscular disease that causes very weak muscles and affects her ability to walk. She has never had the opportunity to run, but thanks to the help and support of her family, along with a device called a duo chair, she has been able to complete multiple marathons, three of which are on her bucket list of the top six marathons in the world.
Now she’s headed to Germany to raise money and awareness for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), an organization for which she formerly served as a national ambassador.
“Our goal has always been to complete the six world major marathons,” Shinneman said. “We’ve done all the U.S. ones, which were Boston, Chicago, and New York. The overseas ones are Berlin, Tokyo, and London, so we’re on the overseas track now.”
Shinneman and her husband, Jamie, will be in the 50th Berlin marathon on Sept. 29.
Unlike their American marathons, this time it will be just Jamie and Amy. Sons Jack and Luke will be supporting them from afar.
In November, Luke will run in the New York City Marathon, also raising money for MDA as part of the team Amy founded: Humbly Courageous.
Shinneman called the marathons, “A good way for us to help do something and make a difference. Both Berlin and New York are MDA Team Momentum sponsored races.”
Donations to Team Humbly Courageous are handled directly by MDA. You can support the Shinnemans’ efforts in both Berlin and New York by donating any amount at tinyurl.com/MDAHumblyCourageous.
Shinneman has many ideas for how to grow Humbly Courageous in the future.
“The dream for Humbly Courageous has always been to think of creative ways to reach out and be of assistance,” Shinneman said. “Part of the dream would be to eventually provide one of these running bikes to someone else because someone gave us ours as a gift. We like to pay it forward. It all involves serving people with disabilities in one way or another.”