NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – Nearly 4,000 runners took part in the annual Achilles Hope & Possibility four-mile race in Central Park on Saturday to support athletes with disabilities.
Former “Daily Show” host and comedian Jon Stewart joined other stars like former Giants player Tiki Barber for the race, which returned after it was canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am so thrilled that this race is back on, man. I look forward to this every year. It’s such a thrill. You know this country has gone through so much over the last year and a half,” Stewart said.
“To be able to participate and feel a part of this New York Road Runners community, it’s uplifting and inspiring to me,” Barber said.
Achilles International, an organization dedicated to encouraging people with disabilities to participate in mainstream sports, partnered with New York Road Runners for the event.
“Achilles and Road Runners go hand in hand, offering and creating a platform for all participants to be healthy, be active, run and engage,” said Ted Metellus, VP of events and race director of the TCS New York City Marathon.
The race was held during Disability Pride Month and marked the 31st anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It also served as the finish of the 650-mile Achilles Resilience Relay, which began on June 26 in Charlotte, N. Carolina.
“Overcoming adversity and challenges in this past year, when we were all isolated from one another and apart. Being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and come out of it together—that’s resilience to me,” said Emily Glasser, president and CEO of Achilles International.