Achilles Track Club
www.achillestrackclub.org
The Achilles International Track Club (www.achillestrackclub.org) was established by Dick Traum in 1983 to encourage disabled people to participate in long-distance running with the general public. Dick is its current President, an above the knee amputee marathoner. We are an international, nonprofit organization that provides support, training, and technical expertise to runners at all levels.Achilles includes people with all kinds of disabilities, such as visual impairment, stroke, cerebral palsy, paraplegia, arthritis, amputation, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, cancer, traumatic head injury, and many others. Runners participate with crutches, in wheelchairs, on prostheses, and without aids.Founded in New York City, the ATC has expanded into 40 chapters in the United States and over 110 chapters on six continents, including countries like Norway, New Zealand, Mongolia, Dominican Republic, Russia, South Africa, Vietnam and Japan.Achilles provides bi-weekly training programs at most chapters. In New York City in association with the Office of Adaptive Physical Education of the NYC Board of Education and the Department of Parks and Recreation, 2,000 disadvantaged children with disabilities train at 50 public schools. This year, a new program for disabled seniors at senior citizen centers (Achilles 65) is operating. Programs, in conjunction with other organizations, provide eye surgery for blind runners, below the knee prostheses, and sports wheelchairs for Achilles members.Achilles is involved in many local and national running events. Every year the ATC sponsors a large number of disabled runners for the New York City Marathon. The 1998 NYC Marathon, for example, had 281 Achilles runners from around the world competing in the 26.2 mile race.Membership in Achilles is free and includes races, coaching, workouts, team T-shirts, and our newsletter, THE ACHILLES HEEL. The Achilles Track Club is a nonprofit organization designated 501(c)(3).
