One local man is running marathons and climbing mountains but he doesn’t have any legs.
“How you put on running shoes to run, I put on legs,” said Rajesh Durbal.
Durbal has competed around the world.
“It was a shock to everyone when I was born to people. No one knew I was going to be missing my hand and legs undeveloped,” Durbal said.
The triple amputee was born this way and doctors have been unable to explain why, but it hasn’t stopped him.
He’s completed races all over the world, including two Ironman races which is an over two-mile swim, 100 miles on a bike, and then a 26.2-mile run.
He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with eight other amputees, making a documentary which is set to be released next month.
Now he says he’s training for the 2016 Paralympics.
Durbal has overcome a lot, but life has come with struggles.
“I know what it feels like to have life with no hope and no meaning and no purpose,” Durbal said.
He said he grew up as an outcast, bullied and isolated, contemplating suicide.
“I believed that I wasn’t capable and I didn’t have the right look in order to step outside and be accepted by people,” Durbal said.
It wasn’t until his late 20s when he found his faith, then started competing. He founded a non-profit – Live Free.
Now he works to inspire and motivate others.
“I know I was created for something more than just being an amputee. There was a purpose and a reason why I am like this,” said Durbal.