39 www. ReadMPM. com | www.MountPl easantMagaz i ne. com | www.MountPl easantPodcas t . com BY HEATHER ROSE ARTUSH I N The Cooper River Bridge Run attracts tens of thousands of participants every year. While some are motivated by beating a record, others, like ballet dancer and instructor Marka Danielle Rodgers, are determined to “get over it” to beat the odds. After suffering a spinal cord injury that left her an incomplete quadriplegic, Rodgers decided to take on the bridge to raise awareness and show insurance companies that technology and adaptive medical equipment are important. The journey from a wheelchair to walking with high-tech mechanical knee leg braces while undergoing treatment for breast cancer was “a long shot,” reflected Rodgers. “I trained from the late summer of 2014, trying to stand, until I completed the Bridge Run in 2016 in my leg braces.” Her team of supporters, including the staff at the MUSC Wellness Center, made all the difference. “When I crossed that finish line, I didn’t do it by myself,” she added. “I crossed that finish line with a whole group of people that support me.” Looking back, Rodgers adheres to the advice she gives to her ballet students, “You’ll only know how far you can go when you stop trying.” our town Getting Over it Inspiring Tales from the Cooper River Bridge Run Mar ka Rodger s f ac i ng the br i dge run . A l l photos prov i ded.
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