Special education teacher runs half-marathon with student

By GMA Team

One Pittsburgh teacher decided to go the extra mile for her student -- quite literally.

Savanna Barton and her student, Sophie, who is nonverbal and needs assistance to walk, completed the Pittsburgh Half Marathon on May 7.

Barton ran the 13.1-mile course with Sophie, who was pushed in a stroller for the majority of the race, but later walked across the finish line with help from her teacher.

The pair finished the course in 2 hours and 43 minutes.

"WE CAN DO HARD THINGS! I am so proud of my sweet girl," Barton wrote on her Facebook page and shared a photo of race day.

Barton wrote on Facebook that she wanted Sophie to "get to experience life to the fullest and represent her amazing classmates."

Editor's note: This was originally published on May 11, 2023.