Chris Love, Achilles Guide, at Fleet Feet Fundraiser
March 1, 2014
March 1, 2014
January 1, 2014
2013 was a tremendous year of growth and success for the CT Chapter of Achilles International. In February, Erin Spaulding took over the reins from Tony Allegretti and became the Chapter President. Achilles International Founder Dick Traum signed the
Charter and we became an official Chapter!
In March, the Chapter Leadership Team was established with Erin Spaulding as President, Chris Love, Treasurer, and Tracy Andrews, Secretary. In August, an Advisory Board comprised of Beth Shluger, Hartford Marathon Foundation; Rosemary Hokanson, Glastonbury River Runners; Katie Joly, Gaylord Adaptive Sports Program; April
Chevalier, Greater Hartford YMCA; and athletes Tony Allegretti, Jen Gonzalez, and Molly Carta, met for the first time.
The CT Chapter is unlike other Achilles International Chapters that are based in cities, so it made sense to organize the Chapter by regions and appoint Regional Coordinators. Tony Allegrett ioversees Western CT; Diane Amato, Hartford and Northern CT; Tracy Andrews, Greater New Haven; Molly Carta, Central CT, Jen Gonzalez, Fairfield County, and Kelly Weed, Shoreline and Eastern CT. Jen and Tracy have worked hard to collaborate with athletes, volunteers, and race directors in their regions, as well as organized regular trainings, meet-ups and races. Other Regional Coordinators have provided support at larger Chapter events that they attended. Thank you all for the hard work this year!
This year saw the Chapter growing its database of athletes and volunteers as well! To date, here are the statistics: Fairfield County has 10 athletes and 27 volunteers; Hartford/Northern CT has 13 athletes and 35 volunteers; New Haven has 7 athletes and 13 volunteers; Shoreline/Eastern CT has 4 athletes and 8 volunteers; and Western CT has 5 athletes and 3 volunteers! In total, Achilles CT has 39 registered athletes and 86 active volunteers!
With the establishment of the Chapter Leadership Team and Advisory Board an infrastructure for the Chapter was built. We opened our own bank account through TD Bank CT, and our first deposit came from funds raised by Chris and Bridget Love on their journey to Ironman Lake Placid. Chris created an online fundraising page for Achilles CT through YouCaring.com, which is linked directly to our new website that was launched thanks to the hard work of Monica Guy(www.achillesct.org).
The Chapter Leadership Team and Advisory Board are currently engaged in strategic planning, fundraising, and grant writing. In addition to funds raised by Chris and Bridget, donations this year have come from the Glastonbury River Runners, Marsh & McLennan Companies, The Gibney Family Foundation, and Cigna, in addition to personal donations. Lastly, David Hoffman of HJ Hoffman Co. worked with us to outfit the Chapter in the sporty neon yellow Achilles CT shirts we all so proudly wear (and became a guide in the process)!
Achilles CT athletes and guides also had a successful and inspiring racing season in 2013! Representing Connecticut at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January was Erin Spaulding, who finished her first half marathon, with guides Michael Lo Presti and her husbandMichael! Next up was the NYC Half Marathon in March for Colleen Kelly Alexander, supported along the way by the incredible Matt Long!
At the Cheshire Half Marathon in April were Mike Loura, Tracy Andrews with guide Nina Purslow, and Colleen Kelly Alexander with support from her husband Sean. With help from volunteer Chris Love we set up an Achilles CT tent/table in the expo area and also used the tent for athlete support pre- and post-race.
In May, Colleen Kelly Alexander, along with guides Patti Clarke and Chris Love, competed inthe Ten Penny Ale Shamrock Duathlon. Athletes Colleen and Brett Sloan represented the team at the Iron Horse Half Marathon and 5K at the beginning of June. Despite the heat & humidity both did very well, in fact Brett placed 4th in his age group in the 5K!
On June 30th, Tony Allegretti, Brett Sloan, Brett Flynn, Amy Dixon, and Erin Spaulding headed to NYC for the Achilles International Hope & Possibility Race in Central Park. Erin even had the honor to be invited to the Gala the night before and was also personally asked to run with Trisha Meili, the Founding Chairman of Achilles and author of I Am the Central Park Jogger.
In July, Brett Sloan finished the Aquaphor NYC Triathlon with the NYC Achilles Tri Team…his first Olympic distance tri! Chris and Bridget Love also became Ironmen/women at the Lake Placid Ironman at the end of July (while raising $2,800 for the Chapter through First Giving).
In August, Brett Flynn and Brett Sloan competed in the Niantic Bay Triathlon. Colleen Kelly Alexander finished her first Half Ironman, with support from Chris Love, at Timberman 70.3 in New Hampshire!
Jen Gonzalez and David Solano have been a racing pair this spring as well, running together at many local events in Fairfield County, including the Newtown Road Race in August. September brought Jen Gonzalez, Tony Allegretti, Brett Sloan, Mike Loura, and Erin Spaulding together to race the Dave Parcells Madison Triathlon in partnership with the Gaylord Paratriathlon Team! Brenda Adelson and Tom Branchaud were on the team as well but injured on race day. Way to represent Achilles CT!
The signature Team Achilles CT event for the CT Chapter 2013 racing season was the Hartford Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K and Relay on Saturday, October 12 in Bushnell Park. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of Chris & Bridget Love, the Chapter sponsored athletes Tom Branchaud, Tony Allegretti, and David Alejandro in the full marathon, Tracy Andrews, Jen Gonzalez, and Brett Sloan in the half marathon, and Erin Spaulding and Amy Dixon in the 5K. Becoming “first-timers” were Tom, Jen, and Brett! The athletes were supported by guides Sue Grigley (Tom), Abbey Downing (Tony), Dave Hayes and John Shepherd (David), Jamie Andrews and Chet Balint (Tracy), Bob Palmer (Brett), Stephanie Timpone (Jen), Kevin Koonz (David), Patti Clarke (Amy) and Michael Lo Presti and Diane Amato (Erin). Lynn Healy held down the fort at the athlete support tent and was instrumental behind the scenes! Thanks to a collaboration with Hartford Marathon Foundation, the Adaptive Sports Programs at Gaylord and The Hospital for Special Care, and the Greater Hartford YMCA, the guidelines for athletes with disabilities were revised this year to be more inclusive. This is the first year in the 20th running of the Hartford Marathon that hand cycles are allowed in the full marathon, and separate divisions and awards are created to recognize the variety of disabled athletes participating!
We were so proud of our very own CT volunteers Chris & Bridget Love, who were selected by the Hartford Marathon Foundation as recipients of the 2013 Elite Inspiration Award! They were nominated by members of the Board of Achilles CT for their long-time dedication to Achilles CT Chapter and for their fundraising efforts to give back to the Achilles community.
New athlete Rob DeLuca represented Achilles CT at the Weston Reservoir Run Half Marathon, also in October. Rob also ran with Jen Gonzalez and David Solano in a number of local races in Fairfield County throughout the fall! Regional coordinator Jen Gonzalezcollaborated with the Stratford YMCA to host monthly meetings and workouts to keep the Fairfield County athletes and guides motivated and active!
November was a busy month as well! Tony Allegretti represented Achilles CT at the New York City Marathon, competing in his 4th marathon in his hand cycle!
In collaboration with the Glastonbury River Runners, 11 athletes were at the starting line of the Race for the Pantry! Tony Allegretti, led the hand cycle pack of Krzystof Zybowski and fellow push rim racers Geoff Matestky and Tom Branchaud. David Alejandro, Tracy Andrews, and Alicia Novi joined Rob DeLuca, Brett Sloan, and Erin Spaulding, at the starting line. New member Rosita Cascudo walked in her first race EVER! A big thank you to guides Chet & Twila Balint, Chris Deneen, April Chevalier, Jon Romeo, Heather Freeman, Diane Amato, Grit Rorrio, and Lisa Greenwood. With the exception of Chet and Diane, this was also their first time guiding an athlete! Thank you for all that you did to support your athlete in the race!
Tracy Andrews led a team at the Hot Coco 5K in Cheshire the week before Thanksgiving. Athletes Tracy, Alicia Novi, Krys Zybowski, David Alejandro, Rob Deluca, and Tom Branchaud were supported by guides Nina Purslow, Jon Romeo, Chet and Twila Balint, Cindy Drozd, Sue Grigely, and Stacia Cardillo!
Wrapping up the 2013 season were athletes Amy Dixon and Tracy Andrews running the Christopher Martin’s Run for the Kids in New Haven two weeks before Christmas! Tracy and Amy braved the cold temperatures for a fundraiser for the Toy Closet program at Yale-New Haven Children’s athletes, showing that not only are Achilles CT athletes tough and determined, but generous of heart as well!
Not only are Achilles CT athletes, volunteers and guides fierce competitors out on the racecourse, they are also quite accomplished! In addition to the previously mentioned off-road accomplishments, other athletes and guides are famous in print and on TV! Chris Love and Tracy Andrews appeared in a spot on NBC CT the week of the Hartford Marathon, and Erin Spaulding and Michael Lo Presti were interviewed live on WFSB Channel 3! Brett Sloan was also featured in the July issue of USA Triathlon Magazine! Erin Spaulding and Colleen Kelly Alexander appeared in separate Runner’s World magazine issues this year, and Erin Spaulding’s story as an Achilles athlete was also featured in the national Cigna GO YOU campaign in November. Amy Dixon’s story was beautifully told in an article in the Wall Street Journal, about her successful career as The Blind Sommelier and as a Para athlete. Amy recently learned that she is joining the ranks with Hines Ward, Mirinda “Rinny” Carfrae and Chris Lieto, becoming a sponsored athlete of TriPainRelief and Got Chocolate Milk Team Refuel!
Congratulations on a successful 2013 racing season to the amazing Achilles CT athletes, and a huge thank you to the dedicated guides and volunteers for helping them achieve their goals and dreams!
Stay tuned for more great Achilles CT events in 2014! This year will be hard to beat!
November 7, 2013 | by Susan Tuz From the New Milford Spectrum
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
When Tony Allegretti raced Sunday, Nov. 3, in the New York City Marathon, he was drinking Gu to keep up his stamina.
Why? Well, the thick gel-filled packets are easier to handle than eating protein bars while riding a handcycle.
For Allegretti, 70, of New Milford, this was his second experience in the Big Apple race.
“I finished in four hours, 57 minutes … very slow,” he said this week. “But my family was there at the finish line and we had a great time.”
His first time, in 2010, he traveled the 26.2-mile course in four hours and 56 minutes. He had been hoping to break that standard this year.
Allegretti races in marathons, half-marathons and team triathalons as a member of Achilles International, an organization encouraging and helping to train disabled men and women who want to participate in mainstream athletics.
“It’s demanding just to get to the starting line and requires someone to help,” Allegretti said. “You have to park the car, get out the handcycle and the wheelchair, get in the wheelchair and get yourself and the handcycle to the starting line.
“Then you have to take the prosthetic leg off, and get onto the handcycle,” he said.
Since that first marathon in 2010, Allegretti also has participated in rock climbing and kayaking — all with volunteer assistants.
“Rock climbing is demanding,” he said. “You have to pull yourself up with your arms. It’s very difficult.”
Achilles has become a big part of life for Allegretti, a retired New York City police officer. He became a member a year after his right leg had been amputated.
In 2008, a scratch on his leg became infected, forcing amputation that December.
Nine weeks later, Allegretti had a long-awaited liver transplant.
During rehabilitation, he was introduced to his first utility handcycle — a three-wheel bike propelled by peddling with one’s arms.
Achilles founder Dick Traum gave him his first racing handcycle shortly after they met. Allegretti considers Traum, also a right leg amputee, to be his mentor.
“If it wasn’t for Dick starting Achilles, there’d be so many people without this outlet,” Allegretti said.
Following in his mentor’s footsteps, Allegretti started a Connecticut Achilles Chapter in 2011. He handed over the reins of president to Erin Spaulding in 2013.
He continues to serve on the advisory board. The chapter now has 75 members.
“I met Tony at a Gaylord Rehabilitation Center adaptive sports program event,” said Spaulding, who a year ago was participating while using a walker.
“He is paying forward what he went through in adapting his athletic ability. Meeting Tony is connecting to a person who understands,” she said. “He brings your confidence in yourself back up and leads you on through the Achilles family he’s created.”
Allegretti lives at Butterbrook elderly housing. His daughter, Melissa Palmer, and granddaughter, Maddie, 14, also live in New Milford.
Brett Sloan of West Simsbury is one of several Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Sports Association athletes who participated in the 28th Annual Dave Parcells Madison Triathlon on Saturday Sept. 7.
The Gaylord Specialty Healthcare athletes with disabilities, ranging from spinal cord to the visually impaired, competed with athletes without disabilities. The race consisted of a .5 mile swim in Long Island Sound, 13 mile bike through the back roads of Madison, and a 3 mile run along the shore.
Sloan was in a biking accident in 2001 while deployed to Greece with the U.S Air Force. About 10 years later, after 20 surgeries and many infections, the decision was made to amputate his right leg below the knee.
However, 3 months after his surgery, Sloan was back on his bike and soon began swimming and running.
Sloan has participated in several other triathlons, such as the Wheeler Y Indoor Tri series, the Summer Solstice Sprint, the NYC Olympic Tri (placed 3rd in his division) among many other athletic competitions.
He also plans on participating in the NE Para-triathlon Regional Championships in Montauk later this month as well as the Hartford Half Marathon in October.
Sloan trains on local roads and says West Simsbury is his favorite area to train.
When he isn’t training or competing, Sloan works as a dermatologist at Uconn Health Center in Farmington and at the VA hospital in Newington.
Sloan hopes to win the championship at the end of the season and as well as stay healthy and continue having fun! He would also like to do a Half Ironman next season if the VA provides him with a running leg that is more efficient for long distances.
He also says he may even give Nationals a shot next year if he improves his 5k time.
He says he does not like to dwell on his accident and states, ”looking forward always feels better than looking back.”
The Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Sports Association has been designated a Paralympic Sport Club by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). The goal of this triathlon is to encourage and promote a healthy and active lifestyle regardless of physical disabilities or impairments. Through these sports events, athletes build strength and courage to further improve their well-being
May 1, 2013
Want to know what guiding is like? See a video by Erin Hulliberger who guided Achilles-Colorado athlete Denise Smith in the recent NYC Marathon.
