My Nonprofit Reviews

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.