Courtney Perry/DMN

Aaron Gill (left) at a wrestling practice at Eagles Training Center in Fort Worth.

DALLAS - An estimated 15,000 runners finished the 38th Wellstone's Dallas White Rock Marathon Sunday; and thousands of spectators cheered on the participants of the marathon, half marathon and relay races.

At mile 25, the last leg of the marathon, 17-year-old Aaron Gill of Fort Worth jumped into the race.

“It's cold," he said. "I have three jackets on and I'm still cold."

The Southwest Christian School student battled the cold weather to honor Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.

Two years ago, he broke his leg while playing football and an infection forced doctors to amputate his leg. However, he said the doctors also gave him hope.

"They have given me so many prosthetics, so many quality prosthetics, that have allowed me to play football, to run track and to do the things I like to do,” he said. “Without them, I would be in a different place.”

The race benefits the hospital, which opened its doors 86 years ago. It has helped more than 180,000 children with orthopedic conditions, including those with neurological and learning disorders. The hospital is able to offer its services for free thanks to donations from organizations and communities in the state, the nation and all over the world.

As for Gill, he is back on the high school football field and tackling other sports such as wrestling and track. Ten minutes into jumping into the marathon, he crossed the finish line with six-year-old Cody McCasland, of Colleyville, on his shoulders.

McCasland was 15 months old when doctors amputated his lower legs. He got his prostheses in March and has won three gold medals at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Endeavor Games for athletes with disabilities.

Both Gill and McCasland have raised thousands of dollars for Scottish Rite.

“They give people peace of mind and they comfort people,” Gill said. "It's nice to know that this is benefiting them and it felt good.”