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Achilles Running Club

by Wendy Downes

Earlier this year, Chris Robb wrote in the Blister about the formation of the Achilles Running Club, an organisation originating in New York and now with over 110 branches worldwide. The Club is a voluntary, charitable organisation which encourages and assists disabled runners to participate in road running with the general public.

These disabilities include stroke, cerebral palsy, paraplegia, arthritis, diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, amputation, visual impairment, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, cancer, traumatic head injuries, and other conditions often thought to be a reason to "stay out of running".

The chairman of the Sydney branch, Richard Shakenovsky, formed a branch in Johannesburg 8 years ago and the disabled members attained remarkable personal achievements, such as Comrades, the New York Marathon etc. When he migrated to Sydney last year he saw the opportunity to start another branch here, and wasted no time. Since its inaugural meeting in April, the club has moved ahead in leaps and bounds. It is now an incorporated body, a charitable organisation, has an active committee, sponsors such as Australian Fashion Group, Corporate Express, Reebok, McCabe Brown (laywers), a membership of 54 of whom 15 are disabled (mostly vision impaired). We are currently training 2 members for the 1997 New York Marathon (they are not quite ready for this year!)

We had 40 members in the City to Surf, of whom 14 were disabled (walking or running), and gained good publicity and media exposure before and during the event.

The club needs to grow more and I urge you to think about what you can do, to help put something back into running and to help someone less able to enjoy what you have taken for granted for so long, who might otherwise not be able to. After standing down as President earlier this year, I saw the opportunity to do just that and am gaining immense satisfaction from the enjoyment these people display from just being able to get out there and do it. Other Striders regularly involved are Rozanne Green, Belinda O'Neil and Chris Robb when he gets the time. Bryce Courtenay is a member and ran with a blind runner in the City to Surf.

Anyone can become a member - membership is $10 which includes a T-shirt, and we need all the money we can get! Maybe you know someone who has a disability or maybe you have one yourself (as listed above, not including a stone in your shoe or a partner who doesn't understand), or maybe you can help out as a volunteer: we'd love to have you join the club. Volunteers are on a roster basis for Sunday morning training and with the current roster the commitment is once every 4 weeks and involves "piloting" a disabled person for a walk or run over any distance up to 10km. The more people we get on the roster the less often the responsibility to attend.

We have been using Centennial Park as our training ground for Sunday mornings but from 5 Oct will be meeting in Hyde Park, near St James Railway Station, using the Domain and Mrs Macquarie's Chair for our run/walk. We meet at 8am and finish with coffee at the cafe in the Domain.