Montreal teen with prosthetic leg overcomes obstacles at Spartan Race

Steep hills, mudpits and barbed wire none of it will stopJeffreyBeausoleil as he runs a 21-kilometre, obstacle-filled race toraise $10,000 for the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Jeffrey Beausoleil, 17, was born with no right foot orarm andhas been a patient of the hospital since he was five months old.

He entered Sunday's Spartan Race atOwl's Head, near Sherbrooke,to show his appreciation to the hospital and its staff.

"I feel like I need to give back to them because they have done so much," theSaint-Jean-sur-Richelieuresidenttold CBC News.

"I feel like I need to give them back something and at the same time, it's a good cause.

• Giving back through Spartan races
• How will the trade affect P.K.Subban's$10M pledge to the Children's Hospital?

The Beast

But completing the 21-kilometre "Beast" Spartan Raceis no easy way to give back, even for elite athletes.

Like all the contestants,Beausoleilwill have to overcomemore than 30 obstacleson the course, not to mentionalmost 30-degreeheat. And he will do all thiswhile wearing a prosthetic leg.

Beausoleilstarted the race at 7:30 a.m.He's not expected tofinish before Sunday evening.

But Beausoleilsays he's lucky to have the company of his father,uncle and two friends.

"It's priceless, you know.It's amazing. It gives me, like, more energy to do it," he said.

Spartan Race in 90 seconds

11 years ago

Duration 1:30

Watch what thousands of racers had to persevere through on Saturday in Wakefield, Que.

Going for the Trifecta

Beausoleilis as competitive as he is charitable, saying above allhe's hoping to challenge himself.

"I could've done a lot of things but not a lot of people do races like this and it's a big challenge for me," he said Sunday while taking a short break in the race.

The Montrealer has already run the 5-kilometre "Sprint" and 13-kilometre "Super" Spartan Races. Completing the "Beast" would make Beausoleil one of only a few to have earned the "Trifecta" medal.

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"I think it proves to any kid with disabilities that they can overcome anything they want. I want to inspire people," he said.

To get to the finish line, Beausoleilwill approach the race the same way he's approached life.

"It's pretty hard, the hills are pretty steep. We're taking it one step at a time."

You can supportBeausoleil's fundraising efforts here.