A 32-year-old man from Spain who has faced a lifelong battle with Cerebral Palsy finished the Barcelona Marathon during Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and completed an improbable but inspiring feat.

Alex Roca of Catalonia, Spain, finished the race on March 19, completing it in 5:50:51 and fulfilling a lifelong dream.

At sixth months old, Roca contracted herpetic viral encephalitis, which led to a severe case of Cerebral Palsy, which causes impaired movement and exaggerated reflexes, reducing the range of motion at various joints due to muscle stiffness.

But Roca, who completed seven half marathons before his first full marathon, did not let that stop him from completing the race. He offered an inspirational message after the race.

“The limit is up to you, and if you want to achieve an objective, whatever difficulties you have, with attitude, willpower, perseverance and resilience, you can achieve everything you propose,” he said. “And if you do not achieve it, you will have given everything and must feel gratified.”

Roca is a sponsored Nike Athlete, and the clothing brand offered its congratulations in an Instagram post.

“Alex set himself to accomplish a world-class breakthrough: Finishing a marathon with 76% physical disability and Cerebral palsy. Now, he has just achieved that milestone. It’s time to enjoy it, but new goals will show up sooner rather than later,” Nike said.

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

During Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month Dr. David Siambanes, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, said that there is hope for children with Cerebral Palsy.

“I have seen children gain the motivation to walk at a later age. As the child grows, the results of the condition become more apparent providing clarity and accuracy in answering these important questions,” he said, “With routine multi-specialty assessments, the parents will obtain knowledge on how the condition affects their child. This knowledge along with the necessary treatment intervention that often is required will result in the optimal care and functional development of their child.”

For more information on procedures to treat Cerebral Palsy, or to contact Dr. Siambanes, please click here.