PEWAUKEE - It is her biggest challenge and the most important. A former Olympic hopeful is now running the race of her life.

Jenny Crain suffered a traumatic brain injury after being hit by a car during a morning training run in August of 2007. Now Jenny is finding her way back.

She wasn't supposed to live or be able to stand up on her own. For two and half years Jenny has been fighting to find herself.

Simple things like standing mean more than any of us could imagine. "Feels like I haven't done it in a long time," Jenny commented. "And it feels good to do that. Feels like I'm normal again."

Jenny's been coming to Body Mechanics and physical therapist Andy Kerk for ten years. "I've been working with him for a long time, and I like him a lot," Jenny told me.

Andy helped Jenny during her running days. Now he's helping her be whole again. "It's just very tragic when you hear about a friend that gets hit by a car and is not going to be quite like she was before."

But the old carefree Jenny is still here. The one who likes to sing. "I'll say something like 'move your fee' and that will stimulate a song in her head," Andy commented. The word shoes launched Jenny into "one of these days these shoes are gonna walk all over you." She followed it up with "let's hear it for Nancy Sinatra." Jenny's quick wit not lost either.

She still has a lot of problems with one side of her body. "My left side is the stiff side. It's the worst side for me."

Rehab is grueling for Jenny, but she draws on her competitive drive to do the work. Part of the therapy is about Jenny trusting her body again. "She's learning that confidence by repetition. Like she can stand up without me holding on to her," Andy said.

And what's even more incredible, Jenny's walking! "It feels great to walk with Andy," she commented. She's also back on a treadmill, a place where Jenny feels comfortable.

At first she could only walk for 30 seconds at a time. Now Jenny's up to five minutes. Andy told us, "she's doing one mile an hour, but she was doing .4 when we started."

Her mom Donna is always there, supporting Jenny's every accomplishment. "I'll look over and her mom's got tears in her eyes. She's very inspiring." Something even Andy gets emotional about.

It's impossible not to be inspired by Jenny's story and her determination. "I have to be tough, and I have to be strong. I always try to do that." That includes re learning almost everything, including how to swallow.

For now Jenny continues to take on her fears and learn how to live again, one small step at a time.

She's a courageous woman and has made amazing progress, but Jenny still has a lot of medical needs.

There's a fundraiser planned for Thursday, February 4th for Jenny's "Make It Happen" fund. It's also a way for Jenny and her family to thank the community for its support. It starts at 5pm at the Whiskey Bar at 788 N. Jackson.

If you're on Facebook Jenny has a fan page. The auction items for the fundraiser are listed there.

If you'd like to help, you can donate on line to Jenny's "Make It Happen" fund. http://www.jennycrain.net/