2015 ACHILLES CT YEAR IN REVIEW

Jan 1, 2016 | Erin Spaulding

Happy New Year Achilles CT!  As we look ahead to the 2016 racing season, I’d like to take a few moments to reflect on the incredible 2015 accomplishments of the Achilles CT Chapter!  Whether you are a new or seasoned athlete, guide, volunteer, donor, sponsor, committee member, Advisory Board member, or part of the Chapter Leadership Team, I would like to personally thank each one of you for all that you have done to contribute to the Chapter’s success this past year…we are now at a record high membership of over 350 athletes and guides!  It has been a true collaborative effort to get where we are today, and I’m honored to be at the ‘captain’ of this incredible team of people!

At the end of 2014, Achilles CT had 70 registered athletes and 198 active guides/volunteers.  Here is an overview of 2015 by numbers:

  • # of new athletes:  18 (Fairfield-2, Shoreline West-2, Shoreline East-4, New Haven/Central CT- 2, Hartford/East- 4, Hartford/West-4)  Total athletes in the CT Chapter=88
  • # of new guides/volunteers:  80 (Fairfield-12, Shoreline West-5 Shoreline East-3, New Haven/Central CT-14, Hartford/East-17, Hartford West-29)  Total guides/volunteers in the CT Chapter=278
  • # of Team Achilles CT road races: 11 in CT; 2 in NYC (Achilles Hope & Possibility and The TCS NYC Marathon)  Total races=13
  • # of Team Achilles CT triathlons & obstacle course events:  2 (Pat Griskus Triathlon & the Gaylord Gauntlet)
  • # of regions holding group workouts:  4 (Shoreline West, Shoreline East, New Haven/Central CT, Hartford/West)
  • # of corporate donations/sponsorships received: 17  (see annual report)
  • # of individual donations received:  15 (see annual report)
  • # of Achilles CT Charity Runners:  1 for Cheshire Half, 3 for Hartford Marathon, 2 for NYC Marathon  Total=6
  • # of grants received:  2 (The Gibney Family Foundation, The Salmon Foundation)
  • # of Cigna Healthy Lifestyles Grants Received:  16 Cigna employees submitted for a total of 57 races this year…$5,700 donated to the Achilles CT Chapter.   Thank you!
  • # of Fundraisers:  1 at Hooker Brewery, 1 for Cheshire Half Marathon, 1 in collaboration with Half Full Brewery, 1 with Friendly’s FUNraising Program, 4 for Hartford Marathon events,  2 with Bridgeport Sound Tigers Hockey, #GivingTuesday Challenge  Total fundraising events= 11
  • # of new adaptive equipment purchased:  1 hand cycle from to loan to athletes for training and races, purchased with grant from The Salmon Foundation
  • # of new community partners:  5 (Physicians Physical Therapy/West Haven, Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center/Madison, Valley Shore YMCA/Westbrook, CT Adaptive Cycling/ Simsbury, Magnakleen/Meriden)
  • # of community outreach/awareness events:  13  (Tent at CT SCI Association event, 2 at Fleet Feet Sports Stamford, “Surprise Squad” at Fleet Feet Sports West Hartford, Cheshire Half Marathon Expo, Iron Horse Expo, Half Full Race Expo, presentation to PT class at Southern CT State University, Hartford Marathon Expo, Paralympic Sports Day at Wheeler YMCA, Cigna Wellness Fair, tent at Glastonbury River Runners race)
  • # of emails sent by Erin this year:  PRICELESS!  ☺
January 1, 2016

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