Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 60, July 2014 | Page 22

ing eak rs Br Ma living legend arrie the B Dennis (far left) with a group of disabled athletes and guides in the New York Marathon. blind runners, but runners with all disabilities, amputees, cancer patients and more.” TO THE BIG APPLE That phone call came from Dick Traum, founder of Achilles International, an American-based organisation that provides people with disabilities the opportunity to run events. An above-knee amputee, Dick was the first amputee to run the New York Marathon, and the idea grew from there. “He knew what I was doing back in SA, and he wanted me to run the New York Marathon with three blind runners from South Africa, so he gave me the tickets and entries,” says Denis. This led to the launch of an Achilles chapter in Johannesburg, and each year Denis still receives 10 entries for New York and the adventure begins for another group of blind runners and their pilots, from visiting some of the city’s most famous restaurants and landmarks, and eventually race day. For Denis Tabakin, founder of the SA chapter of Achilles International, breaking the barriers between ‘abled’ and ‘differently abled’ athletes has been his mission for some 40 years, from running the Comrades to the New York Marathon. – BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER Taking a bite in the Big Apple. “Year after year we’ve taken teams to New York and we don’t specifically choose the best athletes, we create opportunities, including back home, where we have teams helping to train and run with our athletes. Some have never been on a plane before, most have amazing stories, from being born with a disability or being involved in an accident, even some who are braindamaged, and I know that this experience will alter their lives in some way,” says Denis Between 1949 and 1967, Ian Jardine finished the Comrades 14 times, but towards the end of his running career his eyesight had deteriorated so much that he was virtually blind and had to be guided by a sighted runner, with Ian simply holding onto a white handkerchief carried by his pilot. Seeing this inspired Denis Tabakin to offer to guide another blind runner through Comrades in the early 1970s, but little EVERYONE IS A RUNNER did he know that his guiding would eventually grow into Achil le From picking up runners to train something much bigger. “Slowly, word got out and more alwa s athletes ys re ce grea near Old Ed’s in Jo’burg and runners joined our group. Those runners just wanted to be t sup ive port. with a large team of volunteers recognised, and we were slowly breaking down barriers. Besides behind him, Denis hopes the helping the blind runners on the route, we were also creating contacts to Achilles mission carries on. “We’re get them meaningfully employed,” says Denis, who felt that Comrades was not a charity, we want to break a big event that would create more awareness. down barriers, introduce athletes to the sport and let them compete on level terms, to try and improve the social aspect for the disabled and get The group of blind runners and their guides came to be known as the them employed, and let them help themselves afterwards. We can create ‘Jardine Joggers,’ and within a few years Denis found himself leading a contacts and opportunities but it’s up to them to realise that be it running bus of around 100 runners each year at Comrades, with many able-bodied or in business, they can handle anything they’re dealt with. Everyone is a runners also joining, having recognised him from the Comrades Novice Talks he hosted annually with Don Oliver. For Denis, who eventually finished runner – your disability means nothing.” with 18 medals, it was just about the sense of achievement of helping For more info on Achilles International, go to www.achillesinternational.org. another runner to the finish, a feeling he describes as otherworldly. “Then To contact Denis for more info, or to volunteer or sponsor an athlete, e-mail in 1992, I received a phone call that changed that idea to include not only [email protected]. 22 ISSUE 60 JULY 2014 / www.modernathlete.co.za Images: Courtesy Denis Tabakin Achilles Internati onal help s disabled athletes experien ce the world.