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"Running Buddies" Brandon Kucowski suffers from a rare birth defect that severely disabled – basically a spastic quadriplegic according to his dad Ted. Ted Kucowski started looking for ways to involve his severely disabled child in life again and decided to make them triathlete buddies. Brandon enjoys getting out with his dad amoung the runners, swimmers and bikers, and the speed and changes in scenery brings a smile to his face. Caption Jennifer Kukowski loads Brandon into the family van for a ride home from school. Brandon has Schizencephaly, a rare dneurological disorder. He has poor gross and fine motor skills and is unable to walk, talk, sit up on his own, or do anything for himself. 11/01/08

Photo by Peter Ackerman / Asbury Park Press