The 2021 Festival of Miles Athlete in Need is Lakeshia Finch. Lakeshia competed in track and field at Rockwood Summit High School, where she was a state champion in the triple jump. She went on to set multiple records at Abilene Christian University in Texas and was the NCAA Division II Indoor Triple Jump Champion in 2003. Lakeshia continued to use her athleticism post-college, staying active through a local championship-winning kickball team and regular exercise classes. She is also a dedicated volunteer in her community and church.
On the night of June 22, 2020, after their boot camp class was canceled, Lakeshia and her best friend grabbed a bite to eat at Applebee’s in St. John, MO. They, along with another patron, were randomly shot by a stranger. Her friend died on the scene. Lakeshia sustained life-altering injuries, including a spinal injury that has left her paralyzed from the mid-torso down. While doctors initially said she would never walk again, Lakeshia is pushing the limits and making slow improvements through physical therapy and with the support of her family.
Lakeshia’s sister describes her as an “all around amazing woman that walks with God and leads with her faith.”