KATHLEEN, Ga. — Correction: The video in this story says the Cantrell Center 5K is being held on Feb. 23, but the actual date is Feb. 29.
The annual Cantrell Center 5K in Warner Robins is coming up, and one young athlete is getting ready.
Leya Allen is just like any other 11-year-old. She loves playing on her computer, hanging out with her friends, and playing sports.
There's just one difference. She has a prosthetic leg.
"I had my first prosthetic when I was one," Leya said.
Her mom, Amanda, says that's due to a congenital birth defect called proximal femoral focal deficiency or PFFD.
It causes the upper part of the femur bone to be either malformed or missing, causing one leg to be shorter than the other. But the defect has never slowed her down.
Leya has had eight different legs in her life, and her newest one is made for what she does best: run.
"This is a lot bouncier than the other ones that I had," she said.
Her family has done the Cantrell Fun Run since she was in kindergarten, and this year, she's getting ready to run in the 5K.
"We spend about 30 minutes or an hour just walking around the neighborhood," Amanda said.
As soon as she is done with the race, they're headed to Columbus for her wheelchair basketball championship.
"After that, when I get home, when I get to my room, I'm gonna crash," Leya said.
As for what the future holds for Leya?
"She's got some big goals. We'll see what life holds when she gets a little older. We've talked about the Paralympics," Amanda said.
Right now, she's just focusing on getting to that finish line on February 29th and winning her basketball championship.
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