{"id":173586,"date":"2022-01-06T09:00:37","date_gmt":"2022-01-06T17:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/?p=173586"},"modified":"2022-01-06T11:30:36","modified_gmt":"2022-01-06T19:30:36","slug":"supporting-team-peri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/supporting-team-peri\/","title":{"rendered":"This Young Founder and Marathon Runner Will Astound You"},"content":{"rendered":"

On an early Sunday morning in February, Peri Finkelstein<\/a> and a team of 400 of her closest friends will be moving toward the finish line in the Miami Marathon in their \u201cdesigner\u201d blue and yellow tutus — all racing together to benefit Chai Lifeline<\/a>, an amazing organization that provides assistance to children with life-threatening and lifelong illnesses and their families.<\/p>\n

When she\u2019s not prepping for her marathons, Peri can be found producing and hosting her own podcast, where she has published more than 65 interviews, including one with our very own Co-Founder, Katie Kitchens (Episode 53). And yet, Peri describes herself as \u201cjust an ordinary girl doing ordinary things, trying to make my mark on this world of ours.\u201d<\/p>\n

We chatted with her to learn more about Team Peri<\/a>, her personal goals, and the motto that keeps her going.<\/p>\n

BTW. If you want to support Team Peri and Chai Lifeline, head to\u00a0 The Bundle Sale<\/a> to make a donation — It\u2019s open now!<\/p>\n

Your story really is remarkable, can you tell us about yourself?<\/strong><\/em>
\nI am really just your typical 22 year-old girl, who loves fashion, makeup, Starbucks, and chocolate. I was born with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, am on a ventilator 24\/7 since the age of 2, have a tracheotomy tube, electric wheelchair bound, and have had over 30 surgeries in my lifetime. Currently, I am a senior at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, majoring in marketing, and I was recently accepted a MBA program, which I plan on starting in Fall 2022. I am also the Director of Marketing of Team Peri and am the co-host, creator, producer and editor of the podcast, \u201cTeam Peri Step Out of Line.\u201d One of my dreams is to run my own nonprofit in the near future and inspire change.<\/p>\n

How did Team Peri come to be?<\/strong><\/em>
\nIn 2009, two sisters who were my counselors at Camp Simcha ran the Miami Marathon with Team Lifeline in my honor. My mom, Lori Finkelstein, figured that if they could do it, it was time for us to step up. The following year, my mom and my brother, Joel (who was only 13 at the time), ran the Miami half marathon with Team Lifeline and raised over $6,000 for Chai Lifeline…Fast forward to 12 years later, Team Peri has raised to date over $700,000 for Chai Lifeline.<\/p>\n

Why is it important to Team Peri to support Chai Lifeline?<\/strong><\/em>
\nChai Lifeline\u2019s support for myself and my family over the past 20 years has enabled me to get where I am today. Chai Lifeline assists in all aspects of life for children and their families who have cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. Chai Lifeline steps in when you need comfort, understanding, unconditional love, and services for your child and your entire family, help that you did not even know existed nor needed. Their vision is clear, and they lend you their strength until you get your own back.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

How do team members support you during one of these marathons?<\/strong><\/em>
\nIt really is a team effort. My mom pushes me in a special needs jogging stroller with all of my medical equipment strapped to the stroller. She also wears a 20 lb medical backpack with emergency supplies for me. We are usually in the first corral to start the marathon, and the rest of the 20 or so Team Peri members race to catch up to us, and most finish the marathon and then make their way back to walk with me the last part of the half marathon…It is a very emotional day, as you really see the best in people and the City of Miami is really extraordinary to Team Peri.<\/p>\n

How can someone join Team Peri or support from afar?<\/strong><\/em>
\nThere are many ways you can support Team Peri, even in the smallest ways, could make a difference and help us raise awareness of our cause. Donate directly to Team Peri\u2019s current fundraising campaign<\/a>, follow us on social media: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, and\/or YouTube<\/a>, and subscribe to our podcast, \u201cTeam Peri Step Out of Line,\u201d available on Spotify<\/a>, Apple Podcasts<\/a>, and iHeartRadio<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Feel like doing a half marathon and seeing Team Peri in action? Email us at goteamperi@gmail.com or message us directly on social media. We\u2019d welcome you with open arms.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve reached a lot of milestones as a team. What\u2019s the next goal you have your sights on?
\n<\/strong><\/em>Well, of course, we are so close to raising 1 Million dollars for Chai Lifeline, so that is a goal we need to hit, if not this year, then next.<\/p>\n

Personally, the more I learn both in school and through my networking with my extraordinary podcast guests, the more I realize how much more I can do to better the lives of kids like myself. I fully understand that I am more than my disability, and with hard work and by striving to adhere to my mantra of operating without trepidation or fear, I feel that I can accomplish almost anything. There are so many things that I want to do in my life; author a book, become an entrepreneur, travel the world, get my MBA and to continue to build upon my body of work that I have created with my podcast.<\/p>\n

When things get tough in training or in a marathon, do you have a favorite quote or mantra that keeps you going?<\/strong><\/em>
\nYes, on the board that my marathon medals hang on in my bedroom there is a quote that says, \u201cShe believed she could, so she did,\u201d…. and that is me.<\/p>\n

We agree, Peri!<\/p>\n

xx, The FabFitFun Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":"On an early Sunday morning in February, Peri Finkelstein and a team of 400 of ...","author":114725,"featured_media":173588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[722],"tags":[786],"thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/22155011\/Peri-Main1.jpeg","thumbnail_url_middle_card":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/22155011\/Peri-Main1-386x200.jpeg","formated_date":"January 6, 2022","category_name":"FabFitFun Gives Back","category_icon":"","author_name":"Tasha Ball","trending":false,"sponsored":false,"random_color":"#c246dd","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173586"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114725"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173586"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173586\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}