ROCKFORD, Mich. — When it came to life, Kris DeYoung says his former student Mitchell Peterson took in every moment.
"He loved life. He loved living it. He loved watching his Lions. He loved interacting with the people around him. He loved getting creative. He loved watching movies," said DeYoung. "Anybody that was around Mitchell knew that like he was gonna make you smile, he was gonna make you laugh, he was gonna tell you a funny story."
Deyong, a Rockford high school broadcast teacher, said he saw firsthand how Peterson inspired those around him when Peterson was a student in his class.
Peterson was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy which is a disease that causes the progression of muscle weakness and muscle fiber degeneration.
DeYoung said that disease didn't stop Peterson from making life happen.
"He knew that he had those challenges in front of him, but he attacked every day and made the most out of it,” said DeYoung.
His tenacity inspired the creation of Mitchell’s Run Thru Rockford, which is an annual 5k race that raises money for the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.
It’s an effort DeYoung said shows how even while dealing with their own struggle, Peterson and his family put others before them.
"So yes, it was Mitchell's run, and his family just did incredible things with that program and what they did, but for them, it was about bringing awareness, about bringing research, to try to find an end to that terrible disease," said DeYoung.
Unfortunately, at the age of 28, Peterson passed away from the disease.
“I will miss his authenticity as a human. I will miss his joy for life, even given the circumstances that he had. And I will miss just, he brought smiles to everybody that was around him,” said DeYoung.
And even though Peterson is no longer physically here, DeYoung said he knows Peterson’s spirit will continue to inspire others and lead a cure for the disease.
"He's got his Mitchell's run that, you know, we would run as a team every year as a program. Now he gets to run,” said DeYoung.
DeYoung said he hopes the Detroit Lions win the Superbowl in Mitchell's honor, and that team or someone could help get the Peterson family tickets to see the Lions win it all.
