BATON ROUGE – A race like the Louisiana Marathon can bring together strangers for a common cause. And the perfect vehicle for that cause is Ainsley’s Angels who pair up able bodied runners with those who can’t.

Anastacia Wartmann is an 11-year-old from Virginia who is fighting arthritis at a young age. But thanks to people like Mitch Tiffany, she can forget about being sick and have fun.

“She can’t do this on her own, and with Angel Runners she can.” Anastacia’s mom, Jennifer Wartmann said. “And the first time she raced, watching the smile on her face was amazing.”

The two met each other this weekend for the Louisiana Marathon in Baton Rouge. In this race, it isn’t about where you finish. It is more about the relationships that you start. And with each step, Stacia, Mitch and her dog Percy all became closer step by step.

“I think as an Angel Pusher and a runner, it does something. There’s a bond with all of the kids.” Tiffany said. “It’s a strong passion to be able to accomplish these races with all the kids. It’s why I love it.”

For Stacia, it’s a chance to break boundaries.

“It gives me a chance to run a 5k or in a marathon,” she said. “I think it’s really fun and it makes me happy and excited.”

Stacia and her family say they will return to Baton Rouge next year to experience the Louisiana Marathon once again.