BOSTON (WHDH) - A marathon runner from St. Louis is looking for the generous spectator who gave him her jacket and encouraged him to complete the race.
Steven Stallis said he decided to dress light for the Boston Marathon and about 20 miles in, he was starting to feel the effects from the cold weather and rain.
“I was in blurry vision. I was not running straight and I knew something was going downhill,” said Stallis. “I’ve never had that feeling in my life.”
Stallis stopped at the side of the road in front of a group of spectators. That is when the woman noticed he was struggling and gave him her bright yellow raincoat.
“I was almost in tears, I was in pain, just so uncomfortable. I wanted heat,” said Stallis. “And this lady, she thought for a second and just took her jacket off.”
The jacket came with a condition: “If you take this jacket, you’ve got to finish.” Stallis said he would and managed to cross the finish line.
“It was my savior. Nothing else could have saved me,” said Stallis. He said the woman’s kindness made his day and he went on social media, hoping to find her so he could return the jacket and thank her.
The jacket is bright yellow and a women’s size medium. Stallis said he hopes to give it back to the woman but either way, he will always treasure what it means to him.
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