Dear Margaret,

Meet Valerie Hartman, the lawyer turned career/life coach and avid runner. After spending three decades living in other cities like Boston and Atlanta, the native New Yorker returned to the city and couldn't help but remember those bright yellow shirts that had left a lasting mark on her heart every time she saw them whizz by in Central Park and in the TCS New York City Marathon. In January 2021, she joined Achilles as a volunteer guide to "create community and feel the power of doing something with purpose."

Valerie's love for running goes far beyond the marathon miles covered; it's about the transformative power of progress, especially with the athletes she’s run with like Erin, who lives with Type 1 diabetes. 

“Achilles creates a magical bonding experience that lifts everyone up. Watching Erin’s progress of transforming fear into fuel and getting confidence in her body has been so powerful for me. I'll never forget when we crossed the Walt Disney World® Marathon finish line to complete the four-day Dopey Challenge (48.6 miles). She believed in her ability to try, and the sense of setting an audacious goal and meeting that goal.

"The ability to be uncomfortable, experience that discomfort and know that's part of the process, metabolize and turn it into fuel, goes into every part of an Achilles athlete’s life. The athletes don't want to be seen as just someone with a disability. Those ‘Go Achilles!' cheers in the parks and race courses, say you’re a person who set a goal, trained hard and you're about to go do it.

"The brilliance of Achilles that is very unique is that you can participate at any level you want. You can jump right in and they'll meet you where you are. I dare you to walk away from an Achilles workout not feeling better than when you started,” says Valerie, who is also a Team Achilles charity runner.

Achilles is more than a running club; it's a movement where the true win lies in getting to the start line, experiencing the sheer joy of every step, and absorbing the energy of remarkable athletes and veterans who have faced life-changing challenges head-on. But we need your help to transform more lives.

We invite you to join us in celebrating this incredible community and supporting our mission on our first ever Day of Giving on September 20th. Your donation will go a long way in helping individuals like Valerie and Erin find purpose, strength, and community through running. Make a gift today and learn more.