Son Of Superman Actor Christopher Reeve To Take On Marathon For Spinal Injury Victims

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The New York City Marathon will welcome more than 50,000 runners this Sunday.

As CBS2's Steve Overmyer reported, one of the most inspirational stories is about a man who's never run 26.2 miles.

The son of Christopher Reeve will be crossing the finish line on Sunday to honor his father's legacy.

"It's something I've thought about since my training began in May, and it gives me chills when I think about it," he said.

Reeve played Superman, after becoming paralyzed in an accident he became a disabled rights advocate until his death in 2004.

"He believed a hero was an ordinary individual who had the strength to endure and persevere in spite of overwhelming obstacles," Reeve said, "He wasn't Superman, he was an ordinary individual who had the strength to endure and persevere."

It's something Will himself took to heart in accepting the marathon challenge. Admittedly, he's not a runner, but he's doing a lot of it. Two weeks ago he finished the final leg of a triathlon.

"It was the running portion of the triathlon. I did 10 miles which was a perfect training run. It was a good test for this. I know I'm going to be able to do this, which is the most fortifying and exciting thing about this," he said.

Even through the loss of his father and then his mother, Will sees his involvement in the Reeve foundation as his birthright. He's raising money for spinal injury research.

"Me and 49 other people running with big orange shirts that say Team Reeves," he said, "Can't miss us."

They're hoping to raise $35,000. Just keep an eye out for the team that looks faster than a speeding bullet.