Athletes with Disabilities Kick Off Achilles Resilience Relay
Cedric King, an Achilles Freedom Team athlete who will be participating in the Resilience Relay, and a beloved Achilles guide from General Motors at the Detroit Marathon.
Achilles International to Host Achilles Resilience Relay, a 650-Mile Run, Walk, Wheel Relay Featuring Over 150 Achilles Athletes with Disabilities and their Guides
Achilles International will kick off the inaugural Achilles Resilience Relay from June 26 through July 10, 2021. The relay will begin in Charlotte, North Carolina, and consist of a 650-mile run, walk, and wheel up the East Coast that will end in New York City’s Central Park, where athletes will participate in the 19th Annual Achilles Hope & Possibility® 4-Miler presented by TD Bank. Over 150 Achilles athletes and their guides, along with runners, walkers, and wheelers who support the organization’s mission, will move each day from sunrise to sunset to celebrate resilience in the face of adversity and carry out Achilles International’s mission of promoting inclusion in sports and society.
Low vision runner Alison Lynch and her guide and friend Zoe Costanzo contracted covid-19 but are now recovered and vaccinated, and will carry the Resilience Relay torch in NYC.
“Our athletes with disabilities will cover 650 miles from Charlotte to New York City in celebration of inclusion, perseverance, and the unifying power of sport,” says Emily Glasser, President and CEO of Achilles International. “We are thrilled to take on this exciting challenge and stand in awe of the resilience of our athletes and the 26% of Americans living with a disability.”
“We are thrilled to take on this exciting challenge and stand in awe of the resilience of our athletes and the 26% of Americans living with a disability.”
The Achilles Freedom Team of wounded, ill, or injured veterans will cover the first 400 miles of the Resilience Relay, traveling from Charlotte to Washington D.C. The Freedom Team will be greeted by government dignitaries upon their arrival, just ahead of the 4th of July weekend. The Freedom Team is sponsored by Cigna, and athletes will be accompanied by Cigna support guides, including Cigna Corp. President and CEO David M. Cordani.
The Resilience Relay will enter New York City, Achilles’ home, on July 9th.
Achilles International runner and NYC resident Alison Lynch, who has low vision, contracted covid-19 at the start of the pandemic. Her good friend and guide Zoe Costanzo also came down with covid-19. After experiencing long-hauler symptoms for several months, both Alison and Zoe have recovered and been fully vaccinated. They will be taking the baton together on the Manhattan side of the George Washington Bridge on July 9.
Achilles will host its first in-person race since the beginning of the pandemic on July 10th, with the 19th Annual Achilles Hope & Possibility® 4-Miler presented by TD Bank. The event, sponsored by TD Bank and hosted by New York Road Runners, will welcome over 4,000 runners in Central Park, including Achilles celebrity ambassadors Jon Stewart, Tiki Barber, Deborah Roberts, and more.
The Achilles Resilience Relay will not only celebrate the perseverance of Achilles athletes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it will also shed light on the 26% of Americans living with a disability. The individuals in this high-risk group spent countless months in their homes, unable to enjoy simple pleasures such as taking an outdoor stroll. Achilles is asking those interested to make a donation to help the organization reach even more athletes with disabilities. Sponsors of the Resilience Relay include longtime Achilles supporters: Cigna, General Motors, TD Bank, and U-Haul.
For more information on the Achilles Resilience Relay and ways to get involved or to make a donation, please visit the Resilience Relay or email rquick@achillesinternational.org. Follow Achilles International on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, where they will be posting details and photos leading up to and throughout the Resilience Relay.
ABOUT ACHILLES INTERNATIONAL
Achilles International, a global organization operating in 25 countries including the US, transforms the lives of people with disabilities through athletic programs and social connections. Since its founding in 1983, Achilles has empowered over 150,000 athletes of all ages and ability levels to participate in endurance events around the globe. Achilles International’s portfolio of programs includes the Achilles Freedom Team, which serves wounded military personnel and veterans; Achilles Kids, which provides training, race opportunities, and an in-school program for children with disabilities; the Tri Achilles Team, which expands running programs into biking and swimming; Achilles Chapter workouts; and the signature Hope & Possibility® race which takes place in several cities worldwide. While Achiles’ programs focus on running, themain objective has always been to bring hope, inspiration, and the joys of achievement to all.
