Dear Margaret,

This Monday, April 17, more than 40 Achilles athletes with disabilities will race the Boston Marathon. For Justin O' Connell, 32, of Franklin, MA, it's extra special to race in his hometown. Justin was born with muscle issues which later progressed to a degree that required doctors to insert a rod in his spine to save his life in 2006. He re-learned how to sit up, stand up and walk. Today, he's a marathoner conquering his fifth Boston and 28th overall marathon.

"I joined Achilles to meet people with disabilities like me and to be able to run with like minded people. I'm running the Boston Marathon to help inspire and motivate more people to join Achilles Boston when they see my shirt on the course," says Justin.

Will you help us make the transformative power of the sport of running accessible to more people with disabilities?

As Justin says, "Achilles is special because we are a family, on and off the marathon course." When you make a tax deductible gift today, you help athletes like Justin achieve new goals they might never have dreamed were possible.