Aedan’s Crusade Australia
Aedan’s Crusade began as a Charity for us to fund equipment and therapies for Aedan who has Spastic Quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy. Little did we know it would start us on an amazing running journey. It is now a platform to share our families running adventures, and promote inclusion for Aedan, and encouraging others to get out and have a go. In 2014 Cameron (Aedan’s dad) decided he would run, he completed his first 8km event. He then said I’m going to run a marathon, which he did the following year. Just like that, we became a running family. Aedan would often ask to go for a run with him, we used our beach chair initially and so began their partnership.
They have now completed 5 marathons together, numerous half marathons, and over 100 parkruns each. As a family we have completed some fun all ability triathlons, a number of obstacle courses. Our last being a 10km mud course for a local charity.
Running is a great way for Aedan to get fresh air and sunshine, while spending time with family (mainly dad, mum runs too slow). It makes him smile, and that smile contagious with everyone we meet. (I’ve included my favourite photo of him laughing coming into the finishing Shute at Sydney)
He loves being out in the thick of things, and cheering everyone on, but he also loves the cheers he gets when crossing the finish line. We have been lucky enough to run in some beautiful destinations including Sydney, New South Wales & the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Tasmania is on our wish list. Our favourite course is Baybreak in Hervey Bay, where we call home.
In 2018 we purchased our Hoyt Running Chair. I cannot count the Miles that it has already clocked up over the past year and half. But I know there will be a lot more in the coming months. 2020 is going be a huge year, starting in March with the Baybreak Marathon. It’s a beautiful course along the coastline of the Bay, and the boys are aiming for a time of 4 hours. Mum is competing in her first ever half marathon, and on the Sunday the family will be doing the all abilities triathlon. We are looking forward to wherever our running journey takes us in the future.
-Donna Harris
- Published in Share Your Story
Paige and Josh
Joshua and I became friends during fifth grade science class. I looked forward to seeing him everyday, because his smile lit up our entire classroom. Before long, Josh would start seeking me out, and he would get annoyed if I didn’t come over to say hello immediately! Although Josh has a genetic disorder called MECP2 Duplication Syndrome, which makes it difficult for him to move around and communicate as a “typical” fifth grader, it was clear that he loved being treated like “just one of the kids”.
I come from a family obsessed with running! As a family, we usually participate in more than fifty races a year. Then came an idea that changed how I would look at racing forever!
A parent of one of my friends noticed how well Joshua and I worked together during the fifth grade science fair. She had previously seen runners push people in Team Hoyt Running Chairs during local races, and she thought that I could push Joshua in a race.
The rest is history! I spent the summer practicing pushing a borrowed Team Hoyt Blade. I started with strength training, then advanced to pushing my (patient!) sister in the chair for practice. Finally, I felt ready to practice with Joshua. We both LOVED racing together!
Running is one of my favorite hobbies, because watching Joshua laugh as we go over bumps, dance to the music, and cheer when the crowds cheer for us is like nothing else I have ever experienced! Running races together with the Team Hoyt Blade fills both of our hearts with joy! We have run four races together, and hope to do many more.
I am a sixth grader now, and I am working to raise money to purchase a Team Hoyt Blade that can be used by student runners throughout my school district to push their peers who may not be able to run themselves in local races.
-Paige Spooner
- Published in Share Your Story
#TeamAngelWolf Dubai
#TeamAngelWolf in Hoyt Running Chairs!
We have to be the biggest fan of Hoyt Running Chairs, they have got us far in our mission with #TeamAngelWolf!
We are British expats, living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.; we have 2 children Rio (a.k.a our Angel, 16 years old) and Tia (a.k.a Little Wolf, 13 years old)
16 years ago our world changed forever, when Rio was born and we started the journey of discovering his disabilities.
It has taken over 5 years, over 6000 kilometres and over 200 races to get to the point of these videos that explains what we do:
https://youtu.be/mK_52zRKxz8
https://vimeo.com/309699391
Rio has a rare chromosome disorder (1q44 deletion denovo syndrome) which causes him many disabilities (including seizures, intellectual disabilities, global development delays, etc)…. he has been a blessing in our life, truly directing our destiny!
After going through many life, health, family and business traumas, as a family we chose to relook at our priorities (which was family), pick ourselves up and decided to make a positive change in the world to help Rio and the ‘community’; Rio, lead us to create #TeamAngelWolf!
#TeamAngelWolf is a Non Profit Foundation (registered with the Community Development Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates) working towards changing the world for people facing exclusion because of disabilities, by creating a more inclusive, healthier, and kinder global community.
Our mission is to spread awareness, inclusion and integration of people with disabilities in the community; inspire community to embrace their own health and fitness; encourage teamwork/family; and prove that “anything is possible”!
We create platforms for inclusion.
The mission is achieved through participation in sporting events (running/swimming/cycling/obstacle course races, tower stair climbs and triathlons) by inclusion, free inclusive community activities and inspirational talks within schools and the private sector.
Realising that Rio would never have the opportunity to be able to independently experience and participate in races, that Nick loved to do and could freely choose to do (e.g triathlon and running), we wanted to give Rio that same experience and opportunity of inclusion, like everyone else within the community can do!
This initiated Nick and Rio starting to participate in triathlon races; where Nick would swim pulling Rio in a kayak, Nick cycle on an adapted bike where Rio has a special seat on the front and Nick run pushing Rio in a disability running chair. In fact their first ever trial race was a 70.3 distance triathlon race (swim 1.9km, cycle 90km, run 21km) that took them 6.5 hours. Rio LOVED it!
This lead to more races and other activities, like marathon running races, obstacle races e.g Spartan (where a team of 8 carry Rio on a stretcher to get around the course and Rio strapped to Nick’s back to get over the obstacles to the finish line) and tower stair climbs (where Rio is strapped to Nick’s back to ascend a building towers stairs), ultra distant races, etc.
To do inclusive racing, it is a family team effort, as Nick and Rio cannot complete their races without the assistance and support from mum and Tia!
Then over time, mum and Tia also started physically competing in the races with Rio too. Then community started joining them (people with and without disabilities) in races, all wearing #TeamAngelWolf clothing, representing the mission and a #TeamAngelWolf Pack was organically created and continues to grow globally.
This lead to free community activities being created for active inclusion (e.g ‘Beach Blast’ program – inclusive fun at the beach/sea for children from main stream schools and disabilities centres using #TeamAngelWolf’s 5 floating wheelchairs; and ‘TogetherWeCan’ program – using #TeamAngelWolf’s 5 disability running chairs (Hoyt Running Chairs), where people join a run/jog/walk session pushing the chairs for People With Disabilities, for inclusive community fitness.
Then from there Nick started doing inspiration talks at schools and corporates about the #TeamAngelWolf story and mission.
Rio in the 5 years of inclusive racing as part of #TeamAngelWolf has completed over 6000kms by being included in swimming/cycling/running/tower climbs/obstacle/etc races …. he has now covered a distance further than Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Belfast, Northern Ireland .. not bad for a 16 year old boy with disabilities!
To achieve this, Rio has participated in races most weekends of race season, sometimes 2 or 3 races per weekend. Despite his disabilities, Rio has found his passion in life, where he is at his most happiest … “inclusion in races” … within a community that has totally embraced him as an equal!
Some of these races have included:
17 Half Ironman Triathlons (1,900m Swim, 90k Bike, 21k Run)
10 Olympic Triathlons (1,500m Swim, 40k Bike, 10k Run)
22 Sprint Triathlons (750m Swim, 20k Bike, 5k Run)
12 Duathlons (3k Run, 20k Bike, 3k Run)
3 Aquathlons (600m Swim, 3k Run)
11 Open Water Swim Events (1,600m, 1500m, 800m & 300m Swims)
21 Cycle Events (368km, 145k, 129k, 94k, 92k, 75k, 52k, 50k, 48k & 30k Bike)
80 Running Events* (50k 42k, 22k, 21,15k, 12k, 10k, 7k & 5k Runs)
9 Obstacle Races (20k Run, 5k Run with Obstacles)
6 Stair Climbs (52 Floors, 1,334 Stairs & 26 Floors, 730 Stairs)
1 Ski Dubai Hike Run Challenge (11k Hike & Run, Ascent 630m)
#TeamAngelWolf have been invited and travelled internationally to participate in many middle distant 70.3 triathlon races with Rio; including Ironman Turkey 70.3 and 11TriBelgrade (middle distance) in Serbia.
Participating in triathlons with inclusion seems more popular now, which is wonderful to see; but we often get asked how do we get around an obstacle course challenge race or up a tower stair climb race with Rio (especially now he is older, taller and heavier than when we first started five years ago!). This is how …
This is how we complete a Tower Climb race: https://youtu.be/bZGfwKmmSLA
This is how we complete an obstacle challenge race: https://youtu.be/Pq5iezlDPP0
One of the many ultra races we completed was Al Marmoom UltraMarathon; a 50km Desert Race in pure sand dunes, where a team Pack of 8 worked together to get Rio to the finish line (in an adapted Hoyt Running Chair), taking us 13 hours: https://vimeo.com/307655591
Also our daughter, Tia (a.k.a Little Wolf) often races with her older brother, Rio (a.k.a our Angel) too in triathlons and running races (even 10kms!). When she was 11 years old, together they achieved an Official World Record by completing together with inclusion in a Sprint distance triathlon; where she swam 750m pulling Rio in a kayak, she cycled 20kms pulling Rio in a chair (Hoyt Running Chair), she ran 5km pushing Rio in a running disability chair (Hoyt Running Chair): https://vimeo.com/299585243
Our big achievement from last season was in association with the World Games Special Olympics, where we, as #TeamAngelWolf, completed our own epic, ultra #TriWithRio Challenge, where Rio and Nick completed 7 half Ironman triathlons (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 20 km run, 1 km inclusive walk) everyday for 7 consecutive days in the 7 Emirates of the United Arab Emirates:
#TriWithRio DAY 1 Special Olympics Video: FUJAIRAH: https://vimeo.com/317810861
#TriWithRio DAY 2 Special Olympics Video: RAS AL KHAIMAH: https://vimeo.com/318062734
#TriWithRio DAY 3 Special Olympics Video: UMM AL QUWAIN: https://vimeo.com/319387370
#TriWithRio DAY 4 Special Olympics Video: AJMAN: https://vimeo.com/3193882
#TriWithRio DAY 5 Special Olympics Video: SHARJAH: https://vimeo.com/319435388
#TriWithRio DAY 6 Special Olympics Video: ABU DHABI: https://vimeo.com/319436002
#TriWithRio DAY 7 Special Olympics Video: DUBAI: https://vimeo.com/319438642
#TeamAngelWolf were also Ambassadors for the Special Olympics World Games. World Games Special Olympics that was held in Abu Dhabi on March 2018 for people with Intellectual Disabilities; where over 7,500 athletes from over 190 visiting countries participated in 24 different sports. It was an incredible event, meeting so many athletes that utterly inspired us and gave us hope! It was such an honour to be part of this; a lifetime memory for the whole family!
Our activities and races have become more than just about Rio … it has became a community affair, as a platform
for inclusion! As a #TeamAngelWolf Pack we have completed many running races including other children with disabilities and other athletes; for example Dubai Marathon, where 5 runners pushed 5 children with disabilities (in the #TeamAngelWolf disability running chairs – Hoyt Running Chairs) for the whole 42kms, staying together as a pack: https://youtu.be/Hi66ONM5X-c
Then to continue this platform of inclusion as #TeamAngelWolf we have created many free, weekly, inclusive community activities such as ‘BeachBlast’ and ‘TogetherWeCan’.
#BeachBlast program: – inclusive fun at the beach/sea for children from main stream schools and disabilities centres using #TeamAngelWolf’s 5 floating wheelchairs: https://youtu.be/KX8AI21dIXA
#TogetherWeCan program: – using #TeamAngelWolf’s 5 disability running chairs (Hoyt Running Chairs), where people join a weekly run/jog/walk session pushing the chairs for People With Disabilities, for inclusive community fitness; we have such a variety of community joining us of all ages and abilities, children on scooters, parents running pushing babies in prams, older children with cerebral palsy pushing younger children with learning disabilities in the running chairs, people walking their dogs; such a happy, positive, diverse feel to the session: https://youtu.be/3VyUdWwUWV
Recently, we celebrated Rio’s 200th race! To celebrate this occasion we chose to participate in Dubai Run (the first 10km run up Sheikh Zayed Highway amongst Dubai’s iconic towers) where there were over 77,000 participants; it was incredible. We were grateful that we were allowed to start at the front of the line, and where we had the honour to be greeted by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. We also honoured to have the opportunity to run alongside His Highness for the 10kms and he even ran pushing Rio in his disability running chair (Hoyt Running Chair) for part of the race: https://youtu.be/_1QSk8CRxeo
Our other highlight of the last few weeks is our attempt and completion of 2 Guinness World Records; swimming in open water pulling Rio in a kayak for 5km and 10kms. We did the attempt on 2nd November, it was a windy day and the water was very choppy (other races were cancelled that day due to the weather!); we had over 50 people from the community join us for parts of the swim (we swam in 1 & 2km loops). Many people were sea sick it was that rough … but we did it! 5kms in 2hrs 42 mins, 10kms in 6hrs 6mins! Had it been kinder, calmer conditions we would have finished in a much faster time; but I guess it makes for a more dramatic story! Rio was our hero to sit so happily for 6 hours in a kayak in rough water – he smiled and sang for the whole 6 hours; he is our rock star! We received the certificates on 14th November, for the Guinness World Record Day: https://youtu.be/mAXymfsD5zY
To complete such challenges we need the best equipment possible. This is exactly why we chose Hoyt Running Chairs as our chosen chairs to run with! We have 5 so far, that we managed to purchase through corporate sponsorship. They have been incredible chairs to work with; beautifully made, of great quality, easy and smooth to use, they have magically endured being used in endless kilometres of races/events and constantly transported around to different weekly venues, amazing customer service and best of all associated with our hero’s – Team Hoyt!
To be able further embrace our community with our mission, our goal is to get more chairs sponsored to continue our #TeamAngelWolf #TogetherWeCan program with a further reach, especially more in schools.
The long term plan is to have #TeamAngelWolf Pack teams and inclusive community activities based around the world!
We are incredibly grateful to have Rio in our lives, he teaches us daily! He truly lives just in the moment of here and now. He LOVES racing and being ‘included’ within his racing community … we are blessed to have discovered his passion in life … we have no choice but to continue now, as he daily demands, “Race?”!!!
It is heartening to see how community have embraced Rio and want to be part of #TeamAngelWolf, participating in active inclusion. Witnessing our #TeamAngelWolf Pack organically grow of people of all ages and abilities, it has shown true #inclusion!
Thank you Hoyt Running Chairs for making the perfect chairs that have made our mission possible!
#Together we are all creating a more inclusive, healthier, kinder global community!
To follow our story, please do follow our social media pages:
www.facebook.com/TeamAngelWolf
www.instagram.com/teamangelwolf
www.twitter.com/TeamAngelWolf
Brother and Sister, Rio and Tia, Angel and Little Wolf
- Published in Share Your Story
Run4Dre
Andre “Dre” Travis is 38 years old and was born with Cerebral Palsy. He receives full time care from Growing Wings Adult Services, but that hasn’t limited him to a full life. He doesn’t take no for an answer, and will continue to push himself and others to what he defines as success. Dre is a motivational speaker who instills in kids to not let anyone define their limits. That anything is possible. Alongside motivational speaking, he’s a poet, and also will be releasing an album soon. Dre started competing in races back in 2013 with the assistance of Jason “Zeke” Petrie. Zeke was a caretaker/driver for Dre and wanting to get into better shape, decided to start pushing Dre in his wheelchair for additional fitness. Dre fell in love with the freedom of going fast. He often said he felt like flying. Dre and Zeke competed in multiple marathons and triathlons together over a 3 year span.
In 2016, Zeke, along with 4 other Barberton High School graduates started pushing Dre as a relay team. Run4Dre was formed and consisted of Duane Milford, Brian Bidlingmyer, Dean Jones, Zeke Petrie, and Alan Bittinger. In 2019, Mike Mattingly was added to the mix as an alternate when Zeke could not compete. The team has been blessed to be a small part of getting Dre across finish lines in the jogging stroller being used, but wanted something better for him. However, funding just wasn’t falling into place. Leading up to the 2019 Akron Marathon, the team was introduced to Brent and Lucas Ransom. Brent would be pushing his son Lucas in a wheelchair for the marathon. When the team saw the Blade Hoyt racing chair that the Ransoms were going to use, admittedly, we became a bit jealous and knew that we needed to get one.
After the Akron Marathon, and leaning a bit on the funding success that Brent and Lucas received, funding for a new chair took shape quickly. With the assistance of leftover funds from Brent and Lucas, additional help from The Barberton Community Foundation for allowing some funds to transfer, and a quick fundraising sprint, money for a new Blade for Run4Dre was secured. The Blade was christened at the Youngstown Marathon where Jeff Chalmers, a 9 time Boston Marathon veteran, would attempt to qualify himself and Dre as a duo team for the 2021 Boston Marathon. Jeff had previously pushed Dre at the Akron Marathon in 2015, but hadn’t pushed him since. Qualifying and racing in the Boston Marathon has been a dream of Dre’s, and knowing that Jeff would be his pusher gave him the confidence that this could be the year that it finally happened. With a finish time of 3:17:04, Dre and Jeff posted a qualifying time for the 2021 Boston Marathon. Jeff will be running Boston for the 10th time in 2020 on his own, but will return in 2021 as Dre’s engine. Run4Dre looks forward to being there to support and cheer them on in 2021! Jeff said after the Youngstown race that the qualifying time would not have happened if not for pushing the Blade. With the Blade on hand, our team looks forward to more runs, more marathons, and more inclusive running in general. Being a small part of Dre’s journey is a blessing for all.
Team Run4Dre
Dre and Jeff Chalmers Qualifying for Boston Marathon 2021!
Dre and Lucas
Dre and Jeff Chalmers Youngstown Marathon 2019
- Published in Share Your Story
MIAMI MARATHON
Our first marathon, from Colombia, 5:30 our time and almost 43 kilometers, a super saddle to run and nothing like the happiness of my son …
- Published in Share Your Story
Team No Limits in Mansfield, OH
We’ve had a life changing 15 months since getting our first of two Team Hoyt Running Chairs. Brandi, Jeremy, Jason and a few of their friends have had so much fun taking part in 18 community 5k races in 3 Ohio counties so far. The smiles on their faces when they get in their running chairs are all the motivation we need to keep moving forward.
In the beginning, it was our goal to spread the word about this wonderful running chair and to share the benefits of inclusive adaptive sports to everyone in Richland County, OH. Now we are seeing that this movement has become much more than that initial goal. We have been embraced by our local racing community and have been witness to many more positive experiences than we could have imagined. Thanks Team Hoyt Running Chairs for helping make this dream a reality. And, congratulations to everyone else in the world who has been taking a similar journey as us.
Richland New Hope Facebook Page
#RichlandNewhope #TeamNoLimits #SeeUsKnowUsWeWereHere #RichlandCountyOHRocks
- Published in Share Your Story
Stephen and Erik
I first had the opportunity to push my disabled son, Stephen, who is currently 10 years old, in a 10K in December 2014. We used a modified wheelchair owned by the Landrunners, the Oklahoma City running club. Stephen enjoyed it so much, that we purchased a multi-purpose adaptive wheelchair. Since that arrived in May 2015, we have run multiple races together, and every Saturday we go running around the neighborhood. Stephen has almost outgrown his current chair, and we are hoping to have a Hoyt Blade II by the end of the calendar year.
Once I learned that running with Stephen was a possibility, I wanted to give him every opportunity to enjoy the freedom of have the sun and wind in his face as he moved; he can walk, but due to low muscle tone, can only run about 25 meters at a time. Stephen is at his happiest when we are running. His joy brings me joy. Our new goal is to run a sub-20:00 5K together; our current PR is 21:30. Our time spent running is our special time together, our father-son bonding time. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The attached photo is of us running the 2016 Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon.
- Published in Share Your Story
Jackie loves her Hoyt Running Chair
Jackie was introduced to the world of Team Hoyt on her 13th Birthday, when she participated in her first 5k. For three years she did Races in a special needs jogging stroller. This year on her 17th birthday she received her custom Hoyt Running Chair in her favorite color purple. As well as making her much more comfortable especially on longer races, her racing Chair gives her angel pushing her a much more ergonomic chair to push. As she is looking to do more half marathons and marathons, the chair is a definite advantage. Thanks to Hoyt Running Chairs for making these fantastic running chairs. Also thanks to Team Hoyt New England runners and especially BJ Williams for lending Jackie your legs so she can feel the joy of “running “
- Published in Share Your Story
Deb and Preston
Most of my adulthood was spent walking for exercise. I actually walked everywhere. When my boys were young I would push them in a jogging stroller and we would sing, count daffodils, learn Spanish… this was our quiet time. My son, Preston has Mitochondrial Disease and we knew he may be in that jogging stroller a bit longer than our older son Alex was. But it was okay because Preston enjoyed our walks together. When he was 9 years old he was invited to run with Team Hoyt Virginia Beach. This was much better than walking with mom, now he found speed. While I was walking the half marathons he was running with Team Hoyt and finishing much quicker than I was. This was great for Preston but I wanted to be the one to cross the finish line with him.
In the summer of 2012 I decided to run. February of 2013 I ran my first 14K with Preston. When we crossed the finish line together we were both hooked! Not only were the races fun but the training was fun too. Preston has his bluetooth and we both sing together and laugh at funny things we may see. We stop to take pictures of special things or even just pics of us having fun. Gummy bears are a must for our races, Preston says that the purple ones make me run faster.
In May, 2015 my friends surprised me with a Hoyt Blade Running chair. This totally changed our way of running! First, Preston loved it because there was more room for him and much more comfortable. He also loved it because it allowed me to attempt to run faster, which Preston loved. It also opened another world to us and that was biking together! Our Blade has a bike boom that attaches to my bike and we were now able to ride together. In July 2015 Preston and I joined 2300 cyclist and rode from Philadelphia to Atlantic City to raise money for children of fallen police officers and fire fighters. We didn’t know anyone and were such novices to the cycling world. We had each other to get us through the 65 mile journey and that is exactly what we did.
Yes, crossing the finish line or accomplishing the miles you set out to conquer are important but the most important part is being together. This is something Preston and I do together. Mother and Son! Something we can both do. Preston’s Legs may not cross him over the finish line but his heart is big enough for both of us to get to that finish line. His strength is what he gives me to push my body a little harder. Our passion is what hopefully may inspire others to run for someone else, who cannot, or ride with someone, who’s legs cannot pedal. What is important is you are together, accomplishing something so big and creating memories, they may never have had.
Submitted by Deb Markley Buenaga
- Published in Share Your Story