INDIANAPOLIS -- A woman who had to sit out of the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon for two decades because of a debilitating disease is getting another chance to take part thanks to some friends.

Cindy Mendez remembers what it was like to train for the Mini-Marathon in 1988.

"I loved it. It went from 'I just like running' to 'I love it,'" Mendez said.

Shortly after she competed in the race, Mendez was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

"At the Mini is when I think I had my first exacerbation, and then I got progressively worse," Mendez said.

Twenty years after what Mendez thought would be her last race, she expects to take part again because of longtime friend and former running partner Betty Priest.

"My husband and daughter and I did the Mini last year, and we were probably about mile 10," Priest said. "I don't know where the idea came, but I said to my husband, 'I bet Cindy would like to do this … Do you think we could … push her?'"

Starting training wasn't easy, 6News' contributor Erin Light reported.

"One of the hardest problems we had, which actually brought us all together, was when we first started this, we were trying to find a place to rent an adult jogger," Mendez said. "Nobody rents them."

After hearing of Mendez's struggle to find a jogger to use at the race, the owners of Running Company stepped in to lend a helping hand.

"Cindy embodies the spirit of what we enjoy in running and walking," said Bob Kennedy, owner of Running Company. "There is no reason that somebody like Cindy should be denied that if she has the courage and willingness to go ahead and do it."

With the combination of her willpower, the support of her friends and the resources of Running Company, Mendez is once again ready to race.

"I'm really pumped about this. I'm really excited just to be able to be on the track again with everyone else," Mendez said.

More Info: Good Morning Indiana Blog