September 2011 - Achilles International
September 2011 - Achilles International
September 2011 - Achilles International
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of Wounded Veterans<br />
cycle dedication ceremony. We were honored to have LTG<br />
David Huntoon, the Superintendent of West Point, recognize<br />
members of the Freedom Team who were racing in handcycles<br />
endowed by people in memory of their lost loved ones. <strong>Achilles</strong><br />
board member Enza Jacobowitz and members of her team –<br />
Support our Soldiers – were recognized for endowing over<br />
25 handcycles for the Freedom Team since 2007. Joining Enza<br />
were Bill Howard, Shirley Parrello, Rich Naticchione of the<br />
NJ Run for the Fallen, and Emily Toro. The memory of their<br />
family members will live on through this most fitting tribute. Our<br />
corporate sponsors, GM Military Discount, Bank of America,<br />
Residex, and the Union League Club were also recognized<br />
for endowing handcycles for the team.<br />
After the ceremony, the ULC hosted a Hawaiian themed party<br />
with an incredible buffet of lobster, steak and other gourmet<br />
foods. United We Sing, featuring <strong>Achilles</strong>’ own Genna Griffith,<br />
entertained the troops with a nautical themed show. Sunday<br />
was race day! To our surprise JON STEWART joined the team<br />
on the course after giving opening remarks with Anthony Edwards.<br />
Jon walked the 5 miles with Marine amputee Cory<br />
Szuks and Mark and Sue Degnan of GM Military Discount.<br />
Glenn Beck and Armie Hammer also turned out to support our<br />
team of heroes!<br />
Thanks to U-Haul for their incredible support of the Freedom<br />
Team and to all the physical therapists and Walter Reed staff<br />
who joined us and have helped train the patients for this event.<br />
Thanks to Gene Lynch, Buddy Ducalo and Kevin Kane of the<br />
FDNY, Roy Griffith of PB Fire Rescue and his significant other,<br />
Stacie Kett, Deidra Penny of Shades of Green, Harry Ullman<br />
for hooking us up with the Yankees, and Tim Leonard who volunteered<br />
with us throughout the weekend. Deepest appreciation<br />
to Duncan Burns, Jessica Lyon, Jodie Brinkerhoff, Bill<br />
Ficca, Sal Lifrieri, and all of the members of the Union League<br />
Club for being such incredible hosts.<br />
Walter Reed Trip<br />
<strong>Achilles</strong> was fortunate to have the world’s fastest amputee<br />
marathoner Richard Whitehead join us all the way from Nottingham,<br />
England, for Hope & Possibility. He spent time with<br />
the Freedom Team and encouraged them to continue to set<br />
racing goals. After the race weekend Richard joined <strong>Achilles</strong><br />
staff members at Walter Reed, where he hosted a running<br />
clinic for the patients of the Military Advanced Training Center.<br />
Over 60 patients joined us and they were in awe to witness<br />
Richard's speed and balance as he demonstrated his running<br />
technique as a double above the knee amputee. After the clinic<br />
Richard presented Dan Cnossen with the 2nd place award for<br />
the double amputee category. Todd Nicely was presented with<br />
an award as the first Quadruple amputee to run the race on his<br />
prosthetics in 66 minutes!<br />
Sue Degnan from GM walked Hope & Possibility with <strong>Achilles</strong> athlete Cory Szucks and<br />
o race. Second row l-r: Mike Kacer jumps for joy after his star-making weekend!; Todd<br />
utes. Third row l-r: Manny Diaz and Mike Kacer with Nick Swisher; the Freedom Team<br />
n on his race. (San Diego photos courtesy of Angela Marzari-Dulce Photography)<br />
Continued on page 9<br />
<strong>Achilles</strong> Heel 3
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