Achilles' Hope & Possibility 5K Run/Walk Comes to Minneapolis!
Meredith Goins
Description
Collection
Title:
Achilles' Hope & Possibility 5K Run/Walk Comes to Minneapolis!
Creator:
Meredith Goins
Date:
5/5/2006
Text:
ACHILLES' HOPE & POSSIBILITY 5K RUN/WALK COMES TO MINNEAPOLIS
Race to Feature Central Park Jogger and First Female Amputee Back from
Iraq
On Saturday, June 17th, in Bloomington's Hyland Park, Trisha Meili,
author of , I Am The Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and
Possibility will join Melissa Stockwell, the first female amputee back
from Iraq, and participants from across the nation in the inaugural
Hope and Possibility in Minneapolis. The 5K run/walk is open to the
public and is being hosted by the Achilles Track Club in partnership
with the Amputee Coalition of America and sponsored by Otto Bock
Healthcare, headquartered in Minneapolis.
Sixteen years ago, while running through Central Park, Trisha was
accosted, beaten, raped and left for dead. During her rehabilitation,
she learned of the Achilles Track Club that encourages distance running
for people with all types of disabilities. She eventually ran again and
completed two NYC Marathons, the first with Achilles President and
Founder, Dick Traum. Now, she's Chairman of the Board.
Melissa Stockwell could not believe she lost her leg, yet didn't
hesitate to sign up with the Achilles Freedom Team; a 'running' group of
wounded veterans back from Iraq and Afghanistan. The program to provide
goals, training, equipment and opportunity for accomplishment was
initiated over two years ago at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in
Washington DC. With doubting minds on the ability to do a marathon, the
first goal was the HOPE & POSSIBILITY 5M. Melissa was looking forward
to the race, yet infection stepped in, requiring additional surgeries to
save her life. Thirty-four traveled to NYC to participate in Achilles'
5 Mile event. Sixteen returned four months later for the marathon.
This time, Melissa joined them. After building back her strength, she
pushed through the entire 26.2-mile distance on a handcrank wheelchair
with husband Dick at her side.
For the first time, Achilles is expanding their signature H&P event
outside New York. This will be the first time that Trisha and Melissa
will run together. Everyone is invited to come out and join them.
Runners, Walkers and athletes of all ages, with all types of abilities
and disabilities will participate together side by side. Wheelchair
participants are also welcome. The Mayor of Bloomington, along with the
Fire and Police Department, will be on hand to help and participate in
the event.
Paddy Rossbach, RN, President and CEO of the Amputee Coalition of
America, was one of the first members of the Achilles Track Club.
Paddy's entire career in the world of limb loss started when she met
Dick Traum and began training for her first marathon with Achilles in
1984. She held the Female Below the Knee Amputee Marathon record for
many years. Paddy is also the co-founder of ASPIRE, Inc. a nonprofit
organization in the New York area which focuses on sports and
recreational activities for children and young adults with limb loss.
Minneapolis-based Otto Bock HealthCare is the Champion Sponsor of the
H&P. The global leader in high-tech prosthetic and orthotic products,
including
the C-Leg(r) microprocesor knee, the world's first completely
computer-controlled artificial leg. A recognized standard of care at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the C-Leg is used in the treatment of
injured military returning from overseas.
Support also comes from the Mobility Clinic presented by Ossur on
Friday, June 16th during the ACA conference at the Sheraton Bloomington.
Amputees will be evaluated and coached on their running with emphasis on
further distances. One of them, Mike McNaughton, an Achilles Freedom
Team member also back from Iraq, is known for running with President
George Bush. The hope of Achilles is that participants enjoy the event
so much they will consider signing up for the Achilles Team in this
year's ING New York City Marathon on November 5. AVIS continues their
We Try Harder spirit with sponsorship of Achilles athletes in races
and transportation to the starting line.
Pre-Registration is available online at
<URL Redacted>. Race
Day registration and number pick-up opens at 6 AM at the Visitor's
Center in Hyland Park in Bloomington. Awards will be presented after
the race at the Visitor's Center. New York will experience its 4th
Annual HOPE & POSSIBILITY 5M presented by Cushman & Wakefield on Sunday,
August 6th, in Central Park.
ACHILLES
Achilles, a not-for-profit organization designated 501(c) 3, provides
opportunity for disabled members to participate in mainstream distance
running. to promote personal achievement, enhanced self-esteem, and the
lowering of barriers between people.
Dick Traum, Ph.D., who founded Achilles in l983, was the first amputee
to run a marathon. Since its inception, Achilles has expanded to over
three thousand members in the New York City metropolitan area, as well
as others across the United States and over sixty foreign countries.
Achilles runners use crutches, braces, artificial limbs, and wheelchairs
or run without aids. Some are experienced athletes, while others are
exercising for the first time. Members report that running enhances
their health and, under certain conditions, slows or reverses
degenerative aspects of some disabilities.
Mary Bryant is Director of the Achilles Program at Walter Reed Army
Medical Center. She has introduced over 180 recently wounded war
veterans to long distance running, and the program is expanding in
numbers and in scope. A National Marathoners Tour has been set up for
disabled vets with race experience, and team members are now starting
new Achilles Chapters in their hometowns.
Handcrank sports wheelchairs are endowed for these athletes by
organizations, corporations and individuals thru Achilles.
For additional information, or to make a donation, visit
www.achillestrackclub.org < <URL Redacted>> . To
contact program director, Mary Bryant, call 212-354-0300 or email her at
<Email Address Redacted> .
AMPUTEE COALITION OF AMERICA
Founded in 1986, the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) is a national
501(c)(3) non-profit with the mission of reaching out to people with
limb loss and empowering them through education, support and advocacy.
Through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the ACA maintains the National Limb Loss Information
Center (NLLIC), the nation's most comprehensive source of information
for people living with limb loss.
For more information on the ACA or their annual educational conference,
visit www.amputee-coalition.org < <URL Redacted>> ,
call toll-free 888/AMP-KNOW or e-mail <Email Address Redacted>
###
Meredith P. Goins, MS
Marketing/Outreach Coordinator
Amputee Coalition of America
900 East Hill Ave., Ste. 285
Knoxville, TN 37915-2568
(888)AMP-KNOW ext. 8135
Fax: (865) 524-3122
<Email Address Redacted>
http://www.amputee-coalition.org
Join your friends for the ACA Annual Educational Conference & Exposition
< http://www.amputee-coalition.org/annual_meeting_about.html > , June
15-17, 2006, in Minneapolis, Minnesota!
This E-mail and any attachments contain privileged and confidential
information. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or
agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, be aware
that any dissemination or copying of this E-mail is prohibited. If you
have received this E-mail in error, please notify us immediately by
returning it to the sender and deleting this copy from your system.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Race to Feature Central Park Jogger and First Female Amputee Back from
Iraq
On Saturday, June 17th, in Bloomington's Hyland Park, Trisha Meili,
author of , I Am The Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and
Possibility will join Melissa Stockwell, the first female amputee back
from Iraq, and participants from across the nation in the inaugural
Hope and Possibility in Minneapolis. The 5K run/walk is open to the
public and is being hosted by the Achilles Track Club in partnership
with the Amputee Coalition of America and sponsored by Otto Bock
Healthcare, headquartered in Minneapolis.
Sixteen years ago, while running through Central Park, Trisha was
accosted, beaten, raped and left for dead. During her rehabilitation,
she learned of the Achilles Track Club that encourages distance running
for people with all types of disabilities. She eventually ran again and
completed two NYC Marathons, the first with Achilles President and
Founder, Dick Traum. Now, she's Chairman of the Board.
Melissa Stockwell could not believe she lost her leg, yet didn't
hesitate to sign up with the Achilles Freedom Team; a 'running' group of
wounded veterans back from Iraq and Afghanistan. The program to provide
goals, training, equipment and opportunity for accomplishment was
initiated over two years ago at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in
Washington DC. With doubting minds on the ability to do a marathon, the
first goal was the HOPE & POSSIBILITY 5M. Melissa was looking forward
to the race, yet infection stepped in, requiring additional surgeries to
save her life. Thirty-four traveled to NYC to participate in Achilles'
5 Mile event. Sixteen returned four months later for the marathon.
This time, Melissa joined them. After building back her strength, she
pushed through the entire 26.2-mile distance on a handcrank wheelchair
with husband Dick at her side.
For the first time, Achilles is expanding their signature H&P event
outside New York. This will be the first time that Trisha and Melissa
will run together. Everyone is invited to come out and join them.
Runners, Walkers and athletes of all ages, with all types of abilities
and disabilities will participate together side by side. Wheelchair
participants are also welcome. The Mayor of Bloomington, along with the
Fire and Police Department, will be on hand to help and participate in
the event.
Paddy Rossbach, RN, President and CEO of the Amputee Coalition of
America, was one of the first members of the Achilles Track Club.
Paddy's entire career in the world of limb loss started when she met
Dick Traum and began training for her first marathon with Achilles in
1984. She held the Female Below the Knee Amputee Marathon record for
many years. Paddy is also the co-founder of ASPIRE, Inc. a nonprofit
organization in the New York area which focuses on sports and
recreational activities for children and young adults with limb loss.
Minneapolis-based Otto Bock HealthCare is the Champion Sponsor of the
H&P. The global leader in high-tech prosthetic and orthotic products,
including
the C-Leg(r) microprocesor knee, the world's first completely
computer-controlled artificial leg. A recognized standard of care at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the C-Leg is used in the treatment of
injured military returning from overseas.
Support also comes from the Mobility Clinic presented by Ossur on
Friday, June 16th during the ACA conference at the Sheraton Bloomington.
Amputees will be evaluated and coached on their running with emphasis on
further distances. One of them, Mike McNaughton, an Achilles Freedom
Team member also back from Iraq, is known for running with President
George Bush. The hope of Achilles is that participants enjoy the event
so much they will consider signing up for the Achilles Team in this
year's ING New York City Marathon on November 5. AVIS continues their
We Try Harder spirit with sponsorship of Achilles athletes in races
and transportation to the starting line.
Pre-Registration is available online at
<URL Redacted>. Race
Day registration and number pick-up opens at 6 AM at the Visitor's
Center in Hyland Park in Bloomington. Awards will be presented after
the race at the Visitor's Center. New York will experience its 4th
Annual HOPE & POSSIBILITY 5M presented by Cushman & Wakefield on Sunday,
August 6th, in Central Park.
ACHILLES
Achilles, a not-for-profit organization designated 501(c) 3, provides
opportunity for disabled members to participate in mainstream distance
running. to promote personal achievement, enhanced self-esteem, and the
lowering of barriers between people.
Dick Traum, Ph.D., who founded Achilles in l983, was the first amputee
to run a marathon. Since its inception, Achilles has expanded to over
three thousand members in the New York City metropolitan area, as well
as others across the United States and over sixty foreign countries.
Achilles runners use crutches, braces, artificial limbs, and wheelchairs
or run without aids. Some are experienced athletes, while others are
exercising for the first time. Members report that running enhances
their health and, under certain conditions, slows or reverses
degenerative aspects of some disabilities.
Mary Bryant is Director of the Achilles Program at Walter Reed Army
Medical Center. She has introduced over 180 recently wounded war
veterans to long distance running, and the program is expanding in
numbers and in scope. A National Marathoners Tour has been set up for
disabled vets with race experience, and team members are now starting
new Achilles Chapters in their hometowns.
Handcrank sports wheelchairs are endowed for these athletes by
organizations, corporations and individuals thru Achilles.
For additional information, or to make a donation, visit
www.achillestrackclub.org < <URL Redacted>> . To
contact program director, Mary Bryant, call 212-354-0300 or email her at
<Email Address Redacted> .
AMPUTEE COALITION OF AMERICA
Founded in 1986, the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) is a national
501(c)(3) non-profit with the mission of reaching out to people with
limb loss and empowering them through education, support and advocacy.
Through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the ACA maintains the National Limb Loss Information
Center (NLLIC), the nation's most comprehensive source of information
for people living with limb loss.
For more information on the ACA or their annual educational conference,
visit www.amputee-coalition.org < <URL Redacted>> ,
call toll-free 888/AMP-KNOW or e-mail <Email Address Redacted>
###
Meredith P. Goins, MS
Marketing/Outreach Coordinator
Amputee Coalition of America
900 East Hill Ave., Ste. 285
Knoxville, TN 37915-2568
(888)AMP-KNOW ext. 8135
Fax: (865) 524-3122
<Email Address Redacted>
http://www.amputee-coalition.org
Join your friends for the ACA Annual Educational Conference & Exposition
< http://www.amputee-coalition.org/annual_meeting_about.html > , June
15-17, 2006, in Minneapolis, Minnesota!
This E-mail and any attachments contain privileged and confidential
information. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or
agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, be aware
that any dissemination or copying of this E-mail is prohibited. If you
have received this E-mail in error, please notify us immediately by
returning it to the sender and deleting this copy from your system.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Citation
Meredith Goins, “Achilles' Hope & Possibility 5K Run/Walk Comes to Minneapolis!,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/226441.
