A nurse who works an Atlanta hospital stepped in to assist an eight-year-old girl and her mother running a 5K race over the weekend . A photo of nurse Gary Harris next to Marjan Holbrook and her daughter Rebecca was uploaded to Facebook by Children 's Healthcare of Atlanta . The caption for the Tuesday post read : 'Marjan and her daughter , Rebecca , who has mitochondrial disease signed up to run the Publix 5 [ K ] with the Kyle Pease Foundation Team . 'Heavy rain at the starting line almost kept them from participating , but nurse Gary , who they had met in the hospital a few weeks earlier , spotted them and their predicament . All smiles : Nurse Gary Harris , left , assisted Marjan Holbrook by pushing her 8-year-old daughter Rebecca 's stroller . The three finished a 5K in 27 minutes . Care : Harris earlier was a nurse for 8-year-old Rebecca , who has mitochondrial disease , at an Atlanta hospital . The girl 's mother , Marjan Holbrook , is seen right in the Publix Georgia 5K . 'So , the man who had cared for Rebecca offered to push her through the tough course so mom could run alongside them . 'In the end , not only did all three successfully complete the race , Rebecca and Gary finished first in their division ! The 5K race is part of the Publix Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon . WSB-TV , which first reported on the story and Facebook post , said rainy and chilly weather can irritate Marjan Holbrook 's asthma . Under cold weather , seizures often hit eight-year-old Rebecca , the television station reported . Marjan Holbrook recalled the Sunday events to WSB-TV , saying ' I was about to call [ my husband as he was parking ] and say `` Don ’ t bother , I ’ m not going to run . '' It was getting stressful . ' According to MitoAction , 'Mitochondrial disease is a chronic , genetic disorder that occurs when the mitochondria of the cell fail to produce enough energy for cell or organ function . ' No cure exists for the disease , which can get worse over time , according to the organization . Some of the symptoms include muscle weakness , seizures , having autism or being on the spectrum , as well as learning disabilities and developmental delays , the group says . Health concerns : Marjan Holbrook and Rebecca were going to opt out of the race before Harris offered to help them , since cold weather can irritate Marjan 's asthma and her daughter can get seizures in chilly temperatures . Endurance : Nurse Gary Harris , seen left with Rebecca Holbrook , has said he celebrated finishing the 5K before running to his wife 's spot in the half marathon so they could finish at the same time . Marjan Holbrook told WSB-TV that while at tent for theKyle Pease Foundation ' [ Gary ] came over and said hi and I said , `` Gary , it ’ s good to see you , but I don ’ t think we ’ re going to be running this morning . '' ' The television station reported that Harris then volunteered his assistance before the group went on to run the 5K in 27 minutes . Marjan Holbrook told the station ' I ’ m inspired by Gary because he was n't supposed to be there . He had n't trained , but he just showed up and did it . ' Harris told WSB-TV that he and his wife annually participate in the Publix Georgia Half Marathon . He told the television station he celebrated finishing the 5K before running to his wife 's spot in the half marathon so they could finish at the same time . ' I ’ ve seen at [ Rebecca ] worst and seen her at her best , and knowing I ’ ve helped facilitate her being at her best is the best feeling as a nurse , ' he told WSB-TV .
Gary Harris stepped in to help Rebecca and her 8-year-old daughter Marjan Holbrook , who has mitchondrial disease , participate in a 5K race . Cold weather can reportedly irritate Marjan 's asthma , and in chilly temperatures her daughter can get seizures . The pair were going to opt out of the race before Harris offered to help them and push Marjan Holbrook 's stroller . They went on to run the Publix Georgia 5K in 27 minutes . Harris has said that he and his wife annually participate in the Publix Georgia Half Marathon . He celebrated finishing the 5K before running to his wife 's spot in the half marathon so they could finish at the same time .