( CNN ) About 20 hours after the Boston Marathon started Monday , many of the cheering crowds had dispersed and the streets were cleared . But one man , despite the odds against him , crossed the finish line . Venezuelan native Maickel Melamed , who is battling muscular dystrophy , completed the 26.2 miles just before 5 a.m. Tuesday . A group of energized fans rallied for the 39-year-old as he walked down Boylston Street in the pouring rain with volunteers from his foundation , Vamos . He was the last participant to complete the race , CNN affiliate WCVB-TV reported . Friends who were waiting for Melamed to cross the finish line said the university professor and motivational speaker is dedicated and motivated . `` He wants to show that life is great , no matter how many problems you can have , '' friend Perla Sananes said . Melamed was born with muscular dystrophy , which causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass throughout the body . As the disease progresses , people with the condition have difficulty doing physical activities like running and walking . Melamed has completed marathons in Chicago , New York , Berlin and Tokyo . Boston has a special place in his heart because his parents brought him to the city as a baby , WCVB-TV said . His perseverance was celebrated by crowds at the marathon finish line Tuesday morning , and also by fans online . Melamed is one of about 30,000 participants who raced in this year 's marathon , which comes less than two weeks after a jury found Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty of all 30 charges related to the 2013 Boston bombings . On social media Monday , spectators cheered for runners and the city , calling the marathon a symbol of strength and unity .
Maickel Melamed , who has muscular dystrophy , took part in the 2015 the Boston Marathon . He completed the race 20 hours after the start . Despite rainy weather , fans and friends cheered for the 39-year-old .