Achilles International

I have been a member of Achilles International for about twenty years and now as President of Achilles Ecuador I am very grateful for everything Achilles International has done for all of us, they have helped us grow and continuously increase the number of runners with and without disability. They have not only taught us to experience the health benefits and joys of running, but they have also taught us to create a strong international community, whose members and volunteers help each other, motivate and encourage each other as well.
Thanks to the valuable support of Achilles International our Chapter of Achilles Ecuador has been recognized around the world.
Thank you so much Achilles International

I was volunteering during Vienna Marathon 2017. The Achilles International is a wellness experienced organization, provides all the information and help for its volunteers and clients. I definitely would reccomend this experience for everyone.

El orgullo y motivación que significa pertenecer a la gran familia Achilles International, es invaluable. Es un espacio donde se une la familia, amigos y cualquier persona con deseos de superación. Achilles International Ecuador, es una familia en constante crecimiento.
Freddy Calle Suri
Coordinador

I have participated in Achilles events as a volunteer, and I can attest to the professionalism of the organization and the profound positive effect it has on those living with a wide range of disabilities. This organization distinguishes itself by breaking down barriers and highlighting the abilities and potential of members, and integrates them into mainstream athletics. The therapeutic value physically, mentally and spiritually is immediately evident among the participants. Handicapped athletes are not treated as "special" or "different", but the same as all other athletes. For many, this is a unique and uplifting experience.

Quando conseguimos viabilizar ao PNE a participação num evento de corrida de rua (ou caminhada), estamos, na verdade, levando-o a experimentação da alegria, da emoção, da satisfação, da superação, da confraternização, entre outras sensações inerentes a pratica da corrida de rua.
Este bem estar, acompanha o ACD após o evento, contagiando seus familiares, amigos e todos aqueles com quem convive.
Além dos benefícios sociológicos, esta pratica saudável, influencia positivamente na saúde física e mental do individuo.

Contudo, a pratica de corrida de rua tem um custo, que para o ACD é ainda maior devido a outras demandas, que frequentemente dificultam ou inviabilizam a pratica frequente.

Neste contexto, o ACHILLES, que já espalhou sua filosofia pelos 5 continentes, em mais de 72 países, vem atuando, sempre buscando formas de apoiar e incentivar o ACD.

Eu, como ACD, só tenho a agradecer e parabenizar o ACHILLES.

“Por vezes sentimos que aquilo que fazemos não é senão uma gota de água no mar. Mas o mar seria menor se lhe faltasse uma gota.”
Madre Teresa de Calcutá

Achiiles International helps Brazilian disabled athletes participate in the New York Marathon and keep athletes' dreams alive! In Brazil, we represent Achilles with actions to motivate new people to join the sport! We do actions in sports centers and schools!

My husband was injured in December of 2012. He went from being a Hospital Administrator For the Coast Guard with a very active life to the confines of a wheelchair as a paraplegic. My husband was an athlete before his injury and now found himself retired from a career he loved and unable to do the sports and hobbies he once enjoyed. Or so he thought. About a year into his injury the VA introduced him to the Achilles Organization. This organization has changed OUR life. He was given many opportunities to try snow skiing, wheelchair basketball, archery, and sailing. None of those fit him. From the moment he starting hand cycling and racing in marathons his overall health and well being sky rocketed. His former athleticism came back with a force and he came alive. This was all due to his hard work, determination and Achilles. They have afforded him and our family opportunities and memories that are irreplaceable. We have both met athletes that have been an inspiration to us and that have motivated our family on a fundamental level. Janet Patton and Jo Traum are a dynamic duo that makes every experience seem flawless, while eliminating barriers for the athletes. They make an amazing team ALWAYS sporting upbeat smiles and unbeatable positive attitudes. One of the other ways Achilles has changed our life is witnessing selflessness, kindness, and compassion on a level we would have not seen otherwise. The volunteer community had amazed us! We now volunteer in our own community and give back any way we can. Our family has become aware of ways we can help others in our community the way Achilles helps us. We may have only stayed aware of our immediate family instead of our human family as a whole. Volenteering has become a huge part of our life. Achilles has been instrumental in my husband’s strides in becoming a better athlete and competitor with each race he is a part of. We are so very proud to be part of the Achilles family and so grateful for all the amazing opportunities Achilles provides for men, women, and children with disabilities. We have met lifelong friends and every Achilles event fills our hearts. My Children thank Achilles! My husband and I thank Achilles!!!!!

Achilles touched, saved and continues to improve so many lives. Restoring the most important thing people lose when becoming disabled - hope. Achilles is empowering people with disabilities through sports, across the globe.

Thank you for the great work! Go Achilles!

My first year with Achilles Kids was a huge success, but it was a struggle to get there first. As was the case in years past, the students resisted the change from the regular routine and did not want to run and participate in the program. However, I started to run with them and told them about the different prizes from Achilles Kids that they would receive if they reached their goals. First, the certificates came in the mail and for many of these students, this would be the first award they had ever received! Soon, there was no more complaining and it was replaced with a motivation that I was so excited to see. They started striving to go a little further every time they came into the gym. Not only did they start to get moving, but they motivated me to start to run again and I started to go after my personal goal of running a marathon.

There was a third-grade boy name James and every day, he would come to the gym and do his walking for Achilles Kids. James was a heavy-weight boy who is slightly autistic and he rarely spoke to anyone. However, through his one-on-one paraprofessional, he told her that he wanted to run instead of walk around the gym to make his goal of one mile without stopping. Every week, he would walk less and run more. On the second week, he came up to me and said, “Watch me, Mr. Dyer!” His running said it all, he did not stop after a mile but kept going about two miles. The smile on his face when he finished made it all worth it. At the end of year one, thirty-four of the thirty-six students had reached their goal of getting a free pair running sneakers. And, by the way, yes, I did run my marathon in May!


The second year with Achilles Kids was a very special one for me. First, I enrolled all my 12:1 classes in the program and immediately, I had the classes off and running from day one. The kids were ready and eager to start running and many reached their goals. I started promoting the Achilles Kids program to other schools in Brooklyn through my PE Professional Learning Committee. I had Karen Lewis (Director of Achilles Kids) visit so she could speak to the other physical education teachers. She did a question and answer session and we signed them up for the program for the upcoming school year. We signed up twenty new schools for the program.

For my school, my students kept on running and I did the same. However, I had to take a step back due to an injury but my students kept encouraging me, “Mr. Dyer, you can always walk, remember no excuses!” Well, I did not stop and I did my walking while they ran. During my injury, I always just kept remembering James’ courage to run and meet his goals. If he can run two miles without stopping I can keep moving during my injury! Last school year, I was awarded a plaque from Karen for my hard work and dedication to Achilles Kids.

Currently, this is my third year with Achilles Kids and my students are off and running again. Yes, my students have me running alongside them again pushing me every step of the way. It is a great feeling to see my students so excited about running and wanting to come to gym week after week. Richard Petracca and I are teaming with school in Virginia to start something big and looking forward to this new challenge for my students and myself.

Achilles Kids is the best thing that is ever happened to my school for students. It gave the huge boost in their self-confidence and believe anything is possible if they just try. My students' parents have come up to me and thanked about how much this program has changed their child's life.

I teach children with various disabilities. The one thing they all have in common is that they all love to move. Movement is their outlet. As a teacher you are always looking for a program that will suit the needs of your students. About 22 years ago I attended a running workshop designed for children with special needs. Karen Lewis was giving the workshop and she completely blew me away with her enthusiasm and passion for the Achilles Kids Program. I signed up that day! The program has grown over the years, improving every step of the way. They are always trying to find ways to help and motivate the children; from t-shirts, maps, bracelets, certificates, medals and of course the sneakers!!

The Achilles Program is about the students ... ABILITIES... not their Disabilities. All my students will finish a 26 mile marathon during the school year and some will come close to finishing 2 marathons! My students are very aware of their goal ... 26 miles ... and maybe a pair of new sneakers!

I never truly understood the impact of the new sneakers until one of my students named "David" informed me that this was the first pair of new sneakers that he had ever received. He always had to wear his older brothers worn down and used sneakers. Then I became more aware of the sneakers that my students wore; many of their shoes had holes, were too small, or the soles were completely worn away. For those children, the sneakers have an even greater meaning to them. The sneakers represent triumph and something that is truly their own.

It’s through the generosity of others that my students are able to be so successful. The sneakers impact their everyday lives, they wear them every day at school and they are a constant reminder that they are able to do whatever they put their minds to. Because of the Achilles Kids Program my students have been able to accomplish more than they have ever dreamed of.

I never thought I'd run a marathon, even when I had all my limbs. When I was introduced to the Achilles Freedom Team, I saw other service members who are in similar situations like myself but stepping out of their comfort zone and smashing physical goals. The Freedom Team has given our disabled veterans a chance to still be athletes and realize to the rest of society that there's no being sorry for us, just be inspired.

Connecting passion and purpose - helping athletes of all abilities lower barriers and participate in mainstream athletics.

I was an avid runner for over a decade. When my mom had passed, I was determined to volunteer in her honor to help others as she always gave so much of herself. One day while running in Central Park, I noticed a large group in bright yellow shirts that was having a great time. This group was from Achilles International. Achilles International is dedicated to assisting mentally and physically disabled athletes with physical fitness and attain self fufillment by pairing disabled runners with able bodied guides.

The more I researched this group, the more I knew I wanted to get involved. So I emailed the NYC Chapter Director and was invited to participate in their Central Park workouts which are held twice weekly. I was nervous at first about fitting in and how I would be greeted but it was like making an instant connection the second I arrived. I was paired with a Visually Impaired runner and we proceeded to run a 6 mile lap of Central Park.

This one workout eventually led to my participation in hundreds of more workouts over the years with them as well as guiding dozens of races. I've guided and made life long friends with people with disabilities ranging from Blindness, Cerebral Palsy, Amputees, Autism, etc. After more than a decade of running and chasing after goal times, I've never felt more fufilled and complete in my running life as now when I am helping others achieve their running and fitness goals. I've guided a young blind woman who was new to New York and never even ran a day in her life. A few months later, I guided her in her first ever race at the NYC Half Marathon. I also guided a middle aged runner who for her first 49 years on this earth was the epitome of health. Then last year, she wound up having detached retinas in both of her eyes. Instead of feeling sorry for herself, she instead reinvented herself and with the help of Achilles, was back up and running. This past November, I had the pleasure of guiding her in her ultimate comeback, the NYC Marathon.

What I've learned that in giving is when we receive because the joy and satisfaction in knowing that you have made a positive difference in someone else's life as well as your community is very gratifying. To witness disabled people achieve goals they never thought possible is heart warming. To have them thank you and know that I played at least a small part in their happiness and achievements is quite humbling. The joy I get from running is now not because of reaching a time goal but from the infectious smiles and camaraderie of those who have a new found identity through running. I see this as a race of giving with a start but no finish line and for that I will always be grateful.

My daughter belongs to the Pikes Peek chapter. She has Cerebral Palsy and Cortical Vision Impairment. Her disabilities require her to have a guide runner. Achilles allows her to participate in an activity that she loves, running. My daughter has waited what seems like a lifetime to find a group that she belongs in. Winning races with a PC category has been an added bonus:) In the short time she's been attending Achilles, the group has become part of our family.

I found Achilles International in 2010, and was added to the Achilles Freedom Team as an adaptive wounded veteran handcyclist. My first race was the Marine Corps Marathon. I was blown away by the atmosphere and love that was poured out of the Achilles staff members for each individual. They made the experience memorable with their family-style approach to event planning. On November 6, 2016, I will participate in the New York Marathon, making it my eighth marathon with Achilles. In addition to marathons, I execute fundraising campaigns to give back for all they've done for my family and I over the past six years. Achilles is family. Achilles is a movement that breaks down barriers and removes the 'dis' from disability.

I cried the day I filled out my application to join. I was 50 years old and all of a sudden my vision made running unsafe. I was so nervous the first day I went but EVERYONE welcomed me and helped make me comfortable.
I went from not wanting to get out of bed in the mornings back to living! The other athletes have been helpful and supportive and taught me about accepting life with a disability. The volunteers - there is just no way to explain how their selflessness impacts me.

Achilles International has helped me run in over half of the World Major Marathons, including the New York City, Chicago and Boston Marathons. The best part of Achilles International is the friends from all over the world that I have met through it. I have left sided Cerebral Palsy and Achilles shows all people can exercise no matter what their physical or mental challenges are.

My husband has been doing marathons with Achilles Freedom Team for two years and it has dramatically improved his outlook on life. Achilles is more like family than a non-profit. They always have race weekends organized and make us feel special. Janet and Joe are amazing and we look forward to many more races with Achilles!

I was a volunteer to assist with the Achilles Freedom Team at the Bank of America Marathon in Chicago. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I'm a veteran and proudly support organizations which help those wounded in action. Achilles goes the extra mile. They go to the hospitals and give the wounded goals to work toward and not just easy goals demanding goals. It is amazing to see the athletics compete doing something I can't do and I have all my limbs. They inspired me to the point I had to volunteer again. I love being out there and helping to make the goals a reality for the athletics. They are amazing people with amazing stories. Achilles provides a road to recovery which not only emphasizes the physical but also stregthens the mental. The attitude of fun is contagious and inspiring. I cannot say enough about the experienc I had volunteering with this wonderful group of people.

My journey to support the Freedom Team of Wounded and Disabled Veterans is a personal one. In 2007 my brother Luigi Marciante Jr. was deployed to Iraq. I remember feeling so empty and desperate to “do something” that I decided the best way to channel my energy was to develop a team, participate in the Hope & Possibility and donate our money to the Freedom Team. Our team name was Pay It Forward because I believed that if people would adopt this very basic concept and support our veterans, think of all the great things we could accomplish. Sadly on September 20th 2007 we were informed that my brother, Cpl. Luigi Marciante Jr. had been killed by an improvised explosive device. That was a day that sadly I always kept in the back of my mind as a worst case scenario but its one of those things that you pray never happens to you. I don’t remember when exactly but shortly after his death, I called Mary Bryant, Vice-President, and Founder of the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans. I knew the best way to honor my brother’s memory was to dedicate my life to supporting disabled and wounded veteran causes, Achilles would be my vehicle to do so. That was when “Team S.O.S. – Support Our Soldiers” in honor of fallen and wounded veterans was born. I am very proud to say that since 2008 we have raised over $40,000.00 for the Endow A Chair Program and my brother’s name graces the back of many chairs along with some other very brave young men. Achilles is an amazing organization for many reasons but for our family it is has given us an opportunity to support the disabled veteran community while honoring the memory of our loved ones. GO ACHILLES!!

Achilles was introduced to me about 12 years ago, and I immediately fell in love with the REAL PROGRAM it provides for all people with disabilities, to participate in mainstream marathons all around the country! The Achilles FREEDOM TEAM of Wounded Veterans focuses specifically on our men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and allows them to set a goal, and train to compete in a marathon not up on a pedestal, yet in their wheelchairs on the course with everyone else. Focusing on their strength and endurance, they ACHIEVE what most Americans don't even dare try ... 26.2 miles. I've run 10 marathons myself, and knowing that amazing sense of accomplishment, that you can do so much more ... is what is being offered by Achilles. Incredible program, great sense of "family" and support - it's become a major focus of my life, because I believe in what is being done, without huge amounts of money being spent on administrative paperwork and excess staff. BRAVO ACHILLES!!!