Jeffrey Bergeman has been a patient at Gillette since he was a child. In 2015, he was matched with an individual through an organization that helps athletes volunteer to run for individuals who cannot due to physical or developmental reasons, with the goal of supporting inclusion and understanding.
Jeffrey’s Bergeman’s father, Jordan, had never been a runner. “I just figured if this person halfway across the country is willing to do this for my son, why shouldn’t I try,” Jordan says. Jordan decided to go for a run, and according to him, it did not at all go well.
But they kept after it and less than a year later, Jeffrey and Jordan completed the Richmond, Virginia Marathon. Since then, Jeffrey and Jordan have run in more than 20 marathons, and countless other races.
“When you interact with Jeffrey, it’s clear that he’s got a lot more to say than he can actually say,” Jordan says. “Out at a race, when everyone is cheering for him, Jeffrey gets to be included in a way that doesn’t always happen in day-to-day life. The thing about inclusion is, it works.”
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