WATCH: LI Woman To Spread Special Needs Awareness With 100 Mile-Run

ISLANDIA, NY — A Long Islander is about to run 100 miles for a good cause. Dr. Christine Astarita, who is the founder and CEO of Breakthrough Intensive Physical Therapy, will run to spotlight special needs children and their families.

Astarita is doing the 3rd Run to Breakthrough, but this marks the first event at 100 miles over 24 hours and it's the organization's first as a non-profit.

The initial idea for running was in response to COVID.

"I wanted to do something that gave [children] some hope, gave them something to look forward to, and bring the community together after everyone had been so isolated," Astarita told Patch.

Astarita will run the route with 10 official stops from the Montauk Lighthouse to the Breakthrough offices in Islandia. She will be joined by families, children with disabilities in adaptive strollers and other athletes during the Sept. 28-29 event.

She has pushed as many as 10 children for a couple of miles each in previous events.

"Oh my gosh, don't make me cry," she said. "It's the most fulfilling piece of it because I don't think they get that feeling that they can do anything. The wheels provide that for them."

Watch the full "Patch Weekly Spotlight" below.