Athletes with Disabilities Beat the Heat and Conquer Major Milestones at the Berlin Marathon
Despite hot and cloudless 82°F conditions, 40 Achilles athletes with disabilities, 41 guides, and 107 Team Achilles Charity Runners participated in the 2025 BMW BERLIN MARATHON. With representation from around the globe, from Mongolia to Mexico, our community came together for one of the world's most iconic races.
This race marked meaningful milestones for several Achilles athletes. Among them was retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant Cedric King of the Achilles Freedom Team, who completed his sixth Abbott World Marathon Major and took the course on for the second time to complete it within the time limit. Cedric, who lost both legs while serving in Afghanistan, shared during a pre-race Abbott event:
“You don’t need everything to be perfect, you just need to keep moving forward. Every step, no matter how tough, brings you closer to who you’re becoming.”
We’re grateful to Team Abbott for supporting Cedric’s journey and for helping make this Six Star moment, and many others, possible for athletes across our community.
Another athlete pursuing that same goal is Roger Oberholzer, a blind runner and Team Achilles USA member, who completed his fifth star in Berlin thanks in part to support from the Cordani Family Grant Program.
“This grant brought me one step closer to earning the Six Star Medal. Being part of Achilles has given me a supportive global community, and Berlin was an incredible experience to share with guides and fellow athletes,” said Roger.
This effort was made possible through the leadership and coordination of Achilles Germany, who helped facilitate guide pairings, organize logistics, and host a shakeout run that brought together participants with a shared sense of purpose and camaraderie.
Our community was strengthened by the efforts of our 107 Team Achilles Charity Runners, who raised over $274,000 to support Achilles programs worldwide. Our work would not be possible without their dedication and support.
