June - July 2020 Newsletter
Achilles Kids Virtual "Super Hero" Run
Greetings!
Achilles is no stranger to change and making the most of what we are given. It is at the core of our mission as we follow the examples set by our members with disabilities. This year even more so. We would love to share some of the great ways Achilles chapters have quickly adapted to these difficult times and kept our programs going, ensuring the welfare and safety of our members.
We hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well.
Amazon Smile!
Don't forget, if you shop at Amazon please shop at https://smile.amazon.com. When you shop here, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice. Be sure to select Achilles! This can generate a lot of money if we can make it a simple habit for 10,000 people on our contacts + thousands of others in our personal social media contacts. Thank you!
Achilles International and TD Bank are partnering to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by launching our 1st Annual Virtual Hope & Possibility 5K/10 Miler from July 18th - July 26th. Achilles has always been committed to elevating, understanding, and dismantling stereotypes and prejudices. We celebrate and honor those who have overcome enormous challenges and will continue our work to move towards a more inclusive tomorrow.
Special Registration price of $10 for people with disabilities/youth 18 and under/veterans/first responders/essential workers
General Registration is $20
Indoor Relay
Virtual Marathon Indoor Relay
With the Armory Indoor Marathon Relay being cancelled, the NYC chapter created a Virtual Indoor Marathon Relay.
Four teams of eight Achilles athletes, supported virtually by several dedicated guides, got together online to run or walk indoors in relay fashion. An opening ceremony was held complete with a national anthem and “course instructions” and with spirited team names like “Team Corona Crushers” and “Quarantine Runners.” Runners and guides set out to virtually tackle 26.2 miles per team. The final leg of the day was completed by Michelle Reynard Georgevich who was guided virtually on her 5K run by Sonya Rani Choudhury, (Sonya had just completed her 12 hour nursing shift in NYC.)
Our Virtual Training Programs - NYC workout with Dave Nadler; Mike Musco and Janet Patton practicing their "kicks" in Central Park for Team Achilles Kids Daily Challenge videos; Francesco Magisano, Director TriAchilles leading one of his many workouts available on our website.
Achilles Freedom Team
The Achilles Freedom Team (AFT) is composed of women and men who know a thing or two about personal sacrifice and adapting in service of a greater good.
This pandemic has been challenging for all, and many of the AFT, like all of us, have prioritized staying active, staying connected and making the most out of this precious life. Several hours of virtual training have been created, shared and added to already impressive training regimens. Several hours of storytelling, music sharing, game playing and memory making have been enjoyed over the screen. Several people have met virtually for the first time or talked to one another for the first time in years.
We aim to expand our program offering over the next several months and look forward to sharing those plans soon.
Brendan Martin, from Finish Line PT, demonstrating several exercises during a NYC Chapter Hangout
Achilles Chapters around the U.S.
Chapter Leaders Step Forward! If there was a silver lining in the global pandemic, it was that we got to visit with more Chapters more often. Conversations started about baking, reading books, the history of Achilles, tips from a Physical Therapist, how people are adapting to quarantine and so much more.
To stay connected as a community, the NYC Chapter continues to meet weekly on Tuesday nights. Each week features a theme or guest speaker including a discussion about injury prevention and strength building. We also had our first Virtual Indoor Marathon Relay and a list of great list of Virtual Training Programs.
Recently Brendan Martin from Finish Line PT joined the meet-up to discuss injury prevention, building strength at home and how to gradually resume workouts without getting hurt. Weekly chapter meetings have been focused around favorite Achilles race memories, first time experiences as a runner or guide and the races that chapter members are most looking forward to when racing resumes.
We now know many people a whole lot better through virtual practices and conference calls. While Achilles NJ had a talent show one week and a magician the next, some Chapters such as St. Louis chatted about how they were spending their time and that led to discussions about virtual racing and breadmaking. Breadmaking was also touched on in Achilles Boston's themed discussion on The Great British Baking Show.
Topics and Games started to surface: Wear a Hat and Tell Us About It | What Was Your Favorite Race and Why | How Did You Come to Achilles? | Favorite Firsts | How are you adapting to the Quarantine? | The History of Achilles with a Focus on How Your Chapter Came to Be | Achilles Connecticut Chapter's Speaker Series | NYC’s Training Tips from a Physical Therapist | A Favorite Achilles Experience? Yes! As you can imagine, the stories are amazing!
A favorite Zoom meeting with the Queens Chapter: "Tell us about your favorite movie, book, and/or song and why" went into overtime. The depth of experience, emotional intelligence of Achilles athletes and volunteers, combined with their willingness to share is life-affirming.
A Schedule of Weekly Virtual Events is on the Achilles website. So, anyone who wants some company on any given day can count on being welcomed by an Achilles Chapter. There is great comfort taken in knowing you can depend on friends being there to talk to. Of course, as the global pandemic subsides and we all look forward to in-person exchanges, virtual meetings will be less frequent. However, it's important to note: The lifeline provided by Achilles Chapter leaders is impressive.
Saranchuluun Otgon, amputee and head of Achilles Mongolia, leading the chapter's weekly run.
Achilles Chapters Around the World
Achilles has chapters around the world and COVID-19 has affected them all. Chapters quickly mobilized and moved to virtual training and hangouts to continue to serve our communities. Many chapters were able to overcome challenges including delivering their programs to members as well as issues such as food shortage, reduced income, lack of communications and digital capability.
Thanks to our International Chapters’ leadership, volunteers, and members, we kept our communities engaged not just through our virtual programs, but also through many other special initiatives. Here are a few examples:
Denis Tabakin, one of the leaders of Achilles South Africa, was able to secure funds for food delivery to support their members in the neighborhoods with dire needs. Achilles Brazil delivered essentials to their communities in need. Mario Mello, Chapter President, recorded discussions with the members and posted them online for others to learn more about each other. Their volunteers donated plasmas with COVID-19 antibodies: achillesinternationalbrazil.com
During Achilles Ecuador’s weekly hangouts a professional physiotherapist was on hand to help members get through this very difficult time. Chapter members wrote about their life stories for an upcoming book.
In Achilles Russia (Moscow) members kept their spirits high by competing in a darts competition with the winner posting a score of 599. During the strict lockdown many members of the chapter run up and down their apartment buildings stairs, virtually climbing the same distance as the Empire State Building every day.
Achilles Sydney Australia chapter had a pushup challenge which generated 5000 pushups. This impressive score continues to grow every day. There is hope that we will soon be back to modified in-person activities, emerging stronger and united. Achilles Australia and New Zealand recently started their in-person workouts following local rules and regulations, taking extra precautions and developing a fresh approach to face the new normal.
Dancing with Team Achilles Kids Stars at a Friday Dance Party
Team Achilles Kids
Team Achilles Kids (TAK) has been keeping extra busy during the pandemic with four new virtual programs, a dozen exercise videos, and even a virtual race! We have Daily Workout Challenges, The Steps/Miles Tracking Program, The Virtual Buddy Program, Live Workouts & Virtual Races.
The Daily Workout Challenge consists of specific exercises with accompanying demo videos for each day of the week culminating in the highlight of the week: Friday Dance Parties! After a week of working out each part of the body kids, parents, and volunteers join in for a super fun, heart-pumping three-song dance party!
The Steps/Miles Tracking Program allows kids to set a weekly or monthly steps or miles goal. Each week they send in their steps/miles achieved for the week to be tracked.
The Virtual Buddy Program pairs each child with two virtual buddies. The volunteers do the daily workout challenges with their kids via a video call, check in with them throughout the week to monitor their goals, and offer friendship and connection during this difficult time. This has been a team favorite!
Two Saturdays a month Janet Patton and Coach Angie (Bullaro Musco) lead a live workout on Zoom. Kids and volunteers sweat along to fun cardio exercises while also getting some quality time to connect with each other.
The 2020 goal for TAK was to participate in a race each month. Sadly, the spring and summer races the kids were supposed to run were canceled due to the pandemic. But nothing was going to keep the kids from achieving their goal! Thanks to Super Fly Kids, who generously donated all the race day swag, our kids and volunteers were able to participate in the Superheroes vs. Villains 5K Virtual Race. This was Team Achilles Kids first-ever virtual race and it was a major success. The kids and volunteers joined a Zoom call dressed in capes and race bibs as Coach Angie ran the race route in Central Park, calling out running related exercises as she went. Emily Glasser, Janet, and Theresa Molloy waited at the end to cheer on the kids as they “crossed” the finish line. Parents adorned their kids with medals and everyone (virtually) celebrated this amazing accomplishment! Over 45 kids and 15 guides participated in the virtual race, whether live on the Zoom call or completing a 5K in their neighborhood while following social distancing guidelines. It was truly an incredible achievement for the kids!
#GivingTuesdayNow
The Achilles International community came together in a big way last month. On May 5th, thousands of organizations across the world participated in GivingTuesdayNow. Similar to Giving Tuesday, which takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this GivingTuesdayNow was a global day of giving and unity that was organized as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Achilles set an initial goal of $5,000. That goal was quickly raised to $10,000. By the end of the day, we had quadrupled our goal and raised nearly $25,000! This outpouring of generosity is a testament to the Achilles community. We would not be able to carry out our mission without the support of our donors. Thank you for your support!
Achilles Charity Runner Peter Volandes at the 2019 TCS New York City Marathon finish line with wife, Sophia, and daughter Paige who is a member of Achilles Kids
Charity Program
#TeamAchilles is a vibrant group of very special people who signed up to run the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon, the BOA Chicago Marathon and the Berlin Marathon. Each runner understands how important their passion and commitment is during this very difficult time and continues to raise funds in new and creative ways to support our members.
We have fun and informative Virtual Gatherings
every Tuesday and Thursday to keep everyone active and engaged, while also building a great sense of community. Presentations include "Training Tips" with NYCM Charity Team members and personal trainers @KaiBraden and @CynthiaThorne. A wonderfully inspiring talk by U.S. Army Master Sgt. (RET) Cedric King, who is also a member of The Achilles Freedom Team; talks with Anthony Butler and Wendy Larsen, both Achilles members and truly inspiring; a presentation on "Heat Management for Runners" by Dr. John Jardin; "Mindful Yoga and Meditation" with Donna Morin; a great presentation on "Team Achilles Kids" with Achilles own Janet Patton and Angie Bullaro Musco. Recently, we had a great "Marathon Training Q&A" presentation with Michael Anderson, Director NYC Chapter and Certified Running Coach, Paralympian Jason Dunkerley, Filmmaker and Running Coach Evan Wood.
Upcoming presentations include: "Nutrition for Endurance Runners" with Kim Raubenheimer; and the Achilles Kids "Run to Learn" Program in public schools with Karen Lewis, Director of Achilles Kids. We are truly grateful for everything our Charity Runners are doing for Achilles.