WHEN: May 15th, 2024!
WHERE: Wherever you are at!!
DETAILS: Spring100 participant Maleiah was injured in a car accident on April 10th leaving her unable to complete her Spring100 Miles(more about Maleiah below). We dedicated 1 day (MAY 15th, 2024) for Spring100ers worldwide to donate a mile(s) to Maleiah and help her cross the finish line!
Get to know more about Maleiah:
Maleiah Bartel, age 18, daughter of Jason & Jennifer Bartel, lives with her parents and four younger siblings on a farm in central Kansas. She graduated from True Life Home School in 2023. While in high school, she took Piano Pedagogy I and II from a local college and began teaching piano lessons through the college’s Music Preparatory School. She continues to study piano herself with the same teacher she started with at 7 years of age. She loves to accompany and regularly serves as a pianist at her church. Recently, she also started a job baking for a coffee shop once a week. Other hobbies include writing and spending time with family.
When Maleiah heard about Spring 100, she was excited and successfully encouraged her siblings to participate. Although her little sister is not officially signed up, they were working together to help her get at least 50 miles. She also enjoyed finding a good walking path for some of her brothers and clocked it out for them. Then they could go anytime and just let her know so she could add miles in the app for them. They enjoyed the nice weather and time together on many of their walks.
On Wednesday, April 10, life quickly changed for all of us. Maleiah was driving into town to run some errands before her piano lesson and then planned to give a lesson as well. She does not remember anything about the accident and all the details are unclear, but a pickup truck did hit her driver’s side at a high rate of speed. The next thing she remembers is waking up in the trauma unit at the hospital.
Because of a pelvis injury and surgery, doctor’s orders are for Maleiah to be non-weight bearing for 2-3 months. After six days in the hospital, she spent about a week with in-patient rehab learning how to transfer herself from place to place with a sliding board only using her arms. She also learned how to accomplish other daily tasks. She has been doing great and is determined to heal as quickly as possible, but of course will be unable to finish Spring 100 by the June deadline. A special thank you to everyone participating in Miles for Maleiah. Above all, we are so very thankful that God not only spared Maleiah’s life, but also protected her so that none of her injuries will be permanent. Lord willing, she will be able to participate in the 2025 Spring 100.