Welcome to the start of fall! It's our busiest time of the year. After a great summer, we are gearing up for several big events, including marathon season.

September begins with Tom McGrath's Third Annual Ultramarathon Run for Achilles Kids. Tom is running 100 miles through the 5 Boroughs to encourage people to contribute $30 or more for our kids' running shoes. Our program has been around since 1995 and grows every year. For those kids who complete a "virtual marathon" (yes, 26.2 miles) during the school year, we award a new pair of running shoes. For many, this is the first pair of new running shoes they have ever owned. For our Achilles Kids Program to remain successful, we need to purchase 7,500 pairs of shoes for this 2015-2016 school year. Last year, we purchased 6,366 pairs of shoes which, if lined up toe-to-toe, is ONE MILE OF SHOES!! Cumulatively, Achilles Kids have run well over 250,000 miles this year alone!! Almost the distance to the moon! Mind-boggling.

A second important event is the Disneyland Half-Marathon Weekend in Los Angeles. In conjunction with Cigna, we are sending a team of Achilles Kids and other members to compete in various races.

In October, we will participate in the Terry Fox Run in Central Park. Terry and I have a special connection. The night before he was to lose his leg to cancer, his basketball coach gave him a photo of me running in the NYC Marathon in 1976. According to his mom, Terry remarked: "If this old guy can run a marathon on one leg, then I can run a marathon every day!" Eventually, Terry ran more than 3,300 miles across Canada and raised $25 Million for cancer research before succumbing to cancer. To date, his foundation has raised several hundred million for cancer research.

Later in October, we are sending teams to Valhalla to run the "Race for Rehab", an annual event since 2000. It is an Achilles fundraiser which has so far raised over $100,000 for Achilles. On October 11th, Achilles FREEDOM TEAM (FT) will compete in the Chicago Marathon. A week later, I will join them and compete in Detroit. General Motors invites dozens of FT members who have the opportunity to enjoy one of the absolute favorite weekends ever. We complete October with approximately 60 Achilles members running the Marine Corp Marathon.

November 1st follows with the New York City Marathon. It will be my 3rd marathon of the season and I will be competing with over 250 Achilles members from approximately 30 countries and 50 chapters. It is one of the most exciting events of the year and especially great in as much as back in 1983 when we started Achilles, we had only 6 members. In 1984 we increased the number to 13 and by 1985, 25 members. I remember at that time being very concerned, wondering about the following year and questioning, would we have enough members with disabilities to increase our size? Or will this be our biggest ever, numbers wise?

Finally, on November 15th, I am proud to say, we will be the first non-profit running organization to set up a chapter in Cuba! We are also sending a team to compete in the Havana Marathon.

On November 18th, upon returning from Cuba, I will celebrate my 75th birthday! I look forward to the next 25 years!

Thanks to everyone who helps make Achilles the success we are today!