Chapter Milestones: Las Vegas

In 1976, Achilles International’s late founder Dick Traum made history as the first person with a prosthetic leg to complete the New York City Marathon, helping spark a movement that continues to redefine what’s possible for athletes with disabilities around the world.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of that historic finish, we’re celebrating the people, moments and milestones that have shaped Achilles along the way. Today, that movement spans 62 chapters worldwide, each with its own story to tell.

We asked members of the Achilles Las Vegas community to reflect on the moments that have defined their chapter, the milestones they've celebrated, and what Achilles means to them. Read Chapter Leader Ed Robichaud's reflection below.

Ed Robichaud, Chapter Leader, Achilles Las Vegas

My Achilles journey began during one of the most difficult periods of my life. About eight years ago, as my vision declined, I had to stop driving. Two weeks later, I lost my job. I found myself depressed, discouraged and unsure of what came next.

At the time, I was attending a peer support group at a local nonprofit serving people who are visually impaired. One day, a guest visited our group looking for athletes to join a new Achilles chapter she had recently co-founded in Las Vegas. With nothing to lose, I decided to give it a try.

I found a walking guide and quickly discovered that Achilles offered much more than a way to stay active. The camaraderie, connection and mental health benefits gave me motivation at a time when I desperately needed it. I began attending every training, getting to know the athletes and guides and becoming increasingly involved in the chapter.

After a few changes in chapter leadership, I was asked, along with Merie, who now serves as our treasurer, to step into a leadership role. We accepted, and I eventually became Chapter Lead.

Achilles Las Vegas had started with a simple idea several years earlier. One of our co-founders, John Sterling, was training for his first marathon when he read an article about a blind runner preparing for a marathon of his own. John was struck by how similar their experiences were: training plans, nutrition, fueling and injuries. The difference was that the blind athlete needed someone alongside him to run.

The article mentioned Achilles as the place where the athlete had found his guides. John wanted to volunteer, but when he searched for a local chapter, he discovered Las Vegas didn't have one. He called Achilles International in New York to ask whether he could start one.

As John remembers it, the response was essentially, "Okay, you're now Achilles LV."

From there, he began contacting organizations throughout the local blind community in search of athletes. Eventually, he connected with Terri Rupp at the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada, and Achilles Las Vegas was off and running.

In August 2018, around the time of the chapter's founding, Achilles Las Vegas gathered for a Sunday morning training at Cornerstone Park with just two athletes and seven guides. Eight years later, we still train there every Sunday morning, but our community looks very different.

Our growth reflects the impact Achilles has had throughout Las Vegas. Many athletes first come to us while navigating grief, loneliness or major changes in their lives. They may be searching for structure, connection or simply somewhere to belong. What we see again and again is that they keep coming back. They become engaged, inspired and connected to a community that challenges them to keep moving forward.

Our guides are transformed by the experience, too. They learn from our athletes, challenge them, coach them and often find themselves challenged and inspired in return. That relationship between athlete and guide is at the heart of our chapter.

What makes me proudest is our people. Every week, I see athletes continuing to challenge themselves and one another, with guides right beside them. We've built a true team and family spirit. We're there for one another on training days, race days and all the days in between.

I'm also incredibly proud of how much we've grown and how visible Achilles has become throughout Las Vegas. When we arrive at a training or race, people notice the energy, focus, power and fun our team brings with us. That presence has helped introduce more people to Achilles and fueled the continued growth of our community.

For me personally, leading this chapter has meant looking back at what wasn't working in our early years, making changes and using every skill, talent and lesson I've accumulated throughout my life to help the chapter move forward. My own experience with vision loss gives me a unique perspective. I don't just know many of the people within the blind and visually impaired community. I share many of their experiences and understand the physical and emotional challenges that can come with vision loss.

That perspective, combined with the resilience I've built in my own life, drives my determination to make a difference for others.

When I look back at that early photo from Cornerstone Park, with two athletes and seven guides, and compare it to where we are today, the growth is remarkable. At one of our largest race events, Achilles Las Vegas showed up with 30 athletes and 34 guides.

But the numbers only tell part of the story. The real milestone is the community behind them: athletes and guides who keep showing up, challenging each other, supporting each other and proving just how much can change when people have the opportunity to move forward together.

That's what Achilles Las Vegas has become, and that's what I'm most excited to keep building.