Achilles Connecticut Team Celebrates Members, Community Spirit

“Impossible is Nothing” reads a tattoo on the forearm of a member of Achilles International – Connecticut Chapter.

That sentiment was evident during the second week in October, when Team Achilles Connecticut members competed in the 25th annual Eversource Hartford Marathon races. Athletes, whose disabilities include visual impairments and paralysis, ran, walked and rolled (using hand cycles and push rims) in the 5k, half marathon and marathon distances, many supported by their guides.

Huge showing of help from friends

Achilles International is a nonprofit headquartered in New York City that helps people with disabilities participate in mainstream athletics, overcome limitations and boost self-esteem. The Achilles Connecticut team competes in races throughout the state. That’s only possible thanks to the support of countless volunteers and donors, says Chapter President Erin Spaulding.

“It takes a village,” Spaulding enthusiastically notes. Most of the 26 athletes at the Hartford Marathon competed with the help of 30 Achilles guides – all who volunteer their time throughout the year.

Another 35 volunteers, many from Achilles’ membership and community organizations including Cigna, Travelers, The Prudential, Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center, Milford Road Runners, University of Hartford, Trinity College, Quinnipiac University and the University of Connecticut served as course marshals on behalf of Achilles during the cold and rainy race morning. (A Gold-Tier Official Charity Partner – for the fifth year in a row - Achilles Connecticut helped event organizers recruit marshals.)

“We also had many of our volunteers serving as our Achilles ‘pep squad’ to cheer on our athletes and take photos along the course,” says Spaulding. “And a group of students from the University of Connecticut’s Digital Media & Design program were also capturing video footage of the race, which will be incorporated into our official Achilles team video.”

Community sponsors and members step up in support

What Achilles does for disabled athletes throughout the state wouldn’t be possible without financial support. The organization incurs race registration fees and equipment and travel costs – and in the case of the Eversource Hartford Marathon, rental expenses for handicap-accessible portable toilets and a tent for the team to gather and store equipment during the race.

As an Official Charity Partner, Achilles’ goal was to raise $10,000 - which they exceeded, according to Jo Bennett, Director of Development & Marketing for Achilles Connecticut. “Our team of athletes and guides did an amazing job of reaching out to their personal networks for online fundraising,” she says. “But we were also fortunate to have two sponsors for this event - Mitchell Subaru and the Glastonbury River Runners - amazing partners who really stepped up to support our disabled athletes.”

Members of the year: spirit and inspiration

Before race day, the can-do Achilles spirit was celebrated at the Achilles Team Pasta Dinner & Pep Rally, held at Thomas Hooker Brewing Company. Athletes, volunteers, sponsors and official charity runners (who aren’t Achilles members, but fundraise on behalf of Achilles) gathered to carbo-load (thanks to many in-kind donations from local businesses and community members), get excited for the big day, and learn who had been named Achilles Connecticut Volunteer of the Year and Athlete of the Year.

“We owe a special thanks to the Cigna Marketing Insights Team, who volunteered at the event and also compiled and distributed 'cheer bags' to each athlete and guide competing in the race,” says Spaulding.

Volunteer of the Year: This year, and going forward, the award is named in honor of Katy Guidone, a long-time Achilles Volunteer who lost her brave battle with cancer in early 2018. The 2018 Katy Guidone Volunteer of the Year is Margaret (“Grit”) Rorrio of East Hampton.

Grit, who has had rheumatoid arthritis since she was in her 20s, helps out in whatever capacity she’s needed for Achilles, notes Spaulding – guiding athletes and, in 2017, stepping up to the time-consuming volunteer role of Event Coordinator for the Chapter.

“Grit has become a well-known and intensely respected member of the Achilles community,” adds Spaulding. “She goes above and beyond for the Chapter. It has been a challenging year for Grit, and she is so deserving of this recognition.”

Athlete of the Year: Stuart “Stu” Sherman of Bristol, a member since 2016, is the 2018 Achilles Athlete of the Year. Stu has Primary Lateral Sclerosis - a progressive motor neuron disease. Despite his challenges, Stu is an energetic hand-cycle competitor at Achilles team races, and along with his wife, Celeste, and service dog Swanson, is a source of great spirit for the entire team.

“Stu has set big goals for himself - including the New York City Marathon - and he has worked hard to learn the sport of hand cycling, all while battling a progressive disease,” says Spaulding. “Despite what he deals with day in and day out, he stays positive and strong.”

In Stu’s own words: “Achilles has given me a sense of accomplishment and opened up opportunities to be competitive.”

For information about becoming an Achilles athlete or guide, email membership@achillesct.org.

To support Achilles Connecticut with a tax-deductible donation, visit their secure fundraising site.