Kayla Kephart, a senior from Copley, Ohio, grew up with a sibling bond that was, in many ways, just like any other. 

She fought, laughed, and messed around with her big brother, Greg. The only difference was that Greg has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. 

Before Kayla was born, Greg became sick with meningitis as a baby. He was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which affects his mobility and communication. 

His initial prognosis suggested he would have significant difficulty speaking and communicating. But Greg overcame those limitations.  

"He can definitely talk. Sometimes he won't be quiet. He'll just talk your ear off." 

Growing up, Kayla learned to help her parents with everyday tasks, from pushing Greg's wheelchair to assisting with other activities. When her parents needed to be away, she stepped into a more responsible role, sometimes making dinner or baking with Greg's help, one of his favorite activities. 

"It is really simple things that I feel like a lot of people kind of take for granted." 

Despite the added responsibilities, Kayla and Greg's relationship has always been about more than helping one another. They tease each other, argue, and find ways to spend time together, just like other siblings. 

Kayla has learned to find activities Greg enjoys, even if he can't always show his appreciation. Sometimes, he surprises her with small gestures, like picking out a book for her when he goes somewhere with his day program. 

For Kayla, those little moments are part of what makes their relationship special. 

Kayla didn't fully recognize how her family's experience differed from others until high school, when she began noticing other families. Still, she grew up in a close-knit community where Greg was known and loved by many. 

"Everybody knows him as this smiley guy. Everyone always sees his smile. They've never seen him angry or upset." 

Kayla remembers people recognizing her by her last name and asking if she was Greg's sister. Wherever the family went, someone seemed to know him. 

Greg's outgoing personality also carried into sports. His parents encouraged him to try as many activities as possible, hoping he could experience life as fully as possible. 

He started with soccer, using a pacer that allowed him to stand and kick the ball. Like any other family at a sporting event, the Kepharts watched from the sidelines. 

But Kayla eventually grew tired of just watching. 

"At first, he didn't want me to help him. He had his own buddy that he had been with for the last few years, so I helped other people." 

When Greg began playing baseball with Miracle League, his previous buddy wasn't available to help. This time, Greg allowed Kayla to step in. 

"I was there. I know how he functions. I know what he likes and doesn't like. It was just a natural thing." 

Kayla also wanted to give her parents a chance to enjoy watching their son play rather than always being the ones helping him. 

"My parents do so much for him, so giving them a break to be able to sit and relax was my mentality. I wanted to make it more fun for him." 

For Kayla, helping Greg participate wasn't simply about getting him onto the field. It was about making sports enjoyable and giving him the opportunity to move and play without making the experience feel like therapy. 

"There are times when he is upset or doesn't want to do things, so if I can help him be a little bit more excited to play baseball or soccer, that is what I want. At the end of the day, it helps him get more PT for his muscle movements without doing a therapy movement." 

Kayla's own athletic journey began in seventh grade, when she started running cross country. 

"I wasn't expecting to like it. I played soccer before, but I was kind of good at it. Definitely not like one of those inspirational stories where it has instant success." 

Running didn't come easily at first, but a middle school coach encouraged her to keep practicing over the summer. The coach believed Kayla could become one of the team's top runners if she committed to the sport. 

"That was the motivating point for me. I decide to stick with cross country and track for high school." 

As Kayla developed her love for running, she came across an Instagram video of someone running alongside their siblings. The video introduced her to the possibility of running with Greg using a specialized running wheelchair. 

Greg needed a different chair to participate safely, but the medical equipment was expensive. Without the means to purchase one, Kayla's mother entered a giveaway for a chance to win it. 

They didn't win. But members of the community who knew Kayla through her cross country program recognized what the opportunity could mean for the siblings. 

"They really believed that Greg should be able to go do stuff with me and not be held back by his disability." 

Those community members purchased the chair, giving Greg the opportunity to run alongside his sister. 

The two began running together and made a tradition of participating in at least one race each summer. 

"Once I started running with him, it's tradition. We at least have to do one race together." 

Greg quickly decided that Kayla was the person he wanted by his side, whether they were running or participating in other activities. 

"Whenever my dad helps, Greg just says, "He just goes too slow." You need to be there to help me." 

At Baseball, Kayla has even become known for popping a wheelie with Greg's wheelchair, something his friends regularly ask her to do. 

"His friends always ask me to, and I have to tell them I can't right now." 

Their shared activities also reflect Kayla's belief that Greg can do more than others might expect. She encourages him to try things, whether that means baking, working on an art project or joining her for a run. 

"He loves doing any art projects I bring his way or baking." 

"He likes doing things but if people put that limitation on him, it's hard for him to do it. My whole idea is he can do everything so long as there is kind of help." 

When Kayla told her mother she wanted to run with Greg, her family supported the idea. 

"My mom was really touched by it. They were both super supportive and wanted to make it happen. They want him to live as much of a normal life as he can and have as much of a fulfilling life as he can. It is hard when he is so reliant because he can't do anything for himself." 

"Them hearing that I want to do these things with him made them really excited. My mom always tells me that she is so thankful that I want to do it and it's not a forced decision." 

As Kayla prepared to leave home for college, she looked forward to her independence but knew the transition would be difficult for Greg. 

"I didn't want to be super far away. I knew my family would be supportive no matter where I went, but I couldn't see myself out of state. It felt too far." 

At first, Greg was excited about Kayla leaving because it meant he could take her room. But he soon realized she would not be coming home every day. 

"He didn't like it. When I visit, he says I am going to stay home from my day program." 

Kayla's family tries to attend her meets when possible, though sitting through an entire competition can be difficult for Greg. Track meets offer a different experience, particularly when Kayla competes in the high jump. 

"Greg sitting there for that long and seeing me pass by, he is over it. For track, it is easier, he likes watching me high jump. It is super quick, he sees me do it and then can go back to what he was doing before." 

As a senior, Kayla plans to continue her education at Ursuline College, pursuing a Master's in Art Therapy. Her experiences with Greg have helped shape her interest in working with people with developmental and physical disabilities. 

"Greg inspired me to go down the route. I do want to work with individuals with developmental and physical disabilities." 

She also plans to continue running. After a decade in the sport, she cannot imagine giving it up completely, especially when it remains one of the ways she connects with Greg. 

"It has been a part of me for the past ten years. I can't see myself fully giving that up. It's easy to remember I have the Fourth of July run with him and making sure I still can do that." 

"I am making sure that connection with Greg is still going to be there. It gives me motivation because he isn't going to like if I stop to walk a bunch of times." 

For Kayla and Greg, running is more than another activity. It is a tradition they have built together, one that gives Greg the chance to participate alongside his sister and gives Kayla another reason to keep moving forward. 

At the annual UC 5K and Mile Walk, the siblings continued that tradition. With Kayla's help, Greg crossed the finish line in second place. 

For the two, the finish was another moment in a relationship defined not by what Greg cannot do, but by what they can do together.