Louisville, Ky. – High‑school senior Wyatt Anderson achieved a remarkable milestone on Sunday by completing the Chicago Marathon, just 11 months after a severe spinal‑cord injury left him unable to move.

From a basketball accident to a marathon finish

On the night of Nov. 4, 2025, Anderson was playing basketball when a rebound attempt sent him head‑first into a wall, fracturing his spine. He blacked out briefly and awoke unable to move. He was rushed to the University of Louisville Hospital, where surgeons fused his spine.

During his rehabilitation at UofL Health’s Frazier Rehab Institute, Anderson gradually regained function, first learning to eat independently and then walking down hallways. By April, he had completed a half‑marathon, setting his sights on the full 26.2‑mile Chicago Marathon.

Training and motivation

Anderson said the goal initially seemed impossible, but “just setting the goal to do this run… it sounded like I would never, like I kind of just did it just to have something to chase.” He acknowledged the mental and physical challenges of marathon training, noting the importance of consistency and the encouragement of spectators.

He also spoke to a group of spinal‑cord injury patients at UofL, emphasizing how seeing someone who has “recovered fully” can be a powerful motivator for others still in rehab.

Running for a cause

Wyatt and his brother ran the marathon to raise funds for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which supports spinal‑cord injury research. Anderson hopes his story will inspire others facing similar hardships, saying, “If I’m having a hard mile, I think about running for those people that can’t and are trying to recover.”

The marathon finish underscores the resilience of individuals confronting life‑changing injuries and highlights the role of community support, medical rehabilitation, and personal faith in overcoming adversity.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.