Achilles Canada | Toronto, CAD

As a teenager, Brian McLean used running as a way to explore the suburbs of Toronto. However, when he was 13 years old, he was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition and discovered he was slowly losing his sight in both eyes. This was alongside a hearing impairment that was diagnosed when he was 5 years old. Eventually, safety concerns forced Brian to give up running outdoors, and he turned to a treadmill. Brian was determined to find a way for physically impaired Canadians, like himself, to run outdoors – so he founded Achilles Canada, a non-profit organization that empowers Canadians with disabilities to return to athletics, and the outdoors.

When I was 13, I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa – a degenerative condition that causes vision loss over time. Today, my vision is at less than the size of a pinhole. I have less than 5% vision left in both eyes. I can see straight on but I have no peripheral vision, so I can’t see where my feet are landing. As a teenager, I ran to stay fit. I loved to run for an hour at a time. Up until the age of 25, I used to play sports, too – so running was a part of my life. It’s when I felt most free. The absence of that was life-changing. 

In 1998, at age 35, a friend drew my attention to people with disabilities who were running the New York City Marathon. They were running through an organization for athletes with disabilities based in the state of New York, led by Dick Traum. Dick was the first amputee runner to run the New York City Marathon in 1976. He founded New York’s first benevolent organization to help people with disabilities stay healthy and fit. I met Dick in 1999, when I went to New York City to meet with him and learn about his organization. When I spoke to Dick about my disabilities, he welcomed me with opened arms and simply said: “You can do what I do in New York City, in Canada”.  He was willing to lend his expertise to help me get started. At that moment, I felt confident I could help Canadians with disabilities to participate with able-bodied athletes in any race or sport they desire.

Achilles Canada was founded in June 1999, with the intention of using outdoor running to improve the health and quality of life of individuals with mental and physical challenges. I said to myself, “If I’m going to do this, I need to set an example to our athletes”. That day, I made up my mind to run my first marathon within the first year of Achilles Canada’s operation. With the help of running guides, I actually did it in six months. I ended up running three marathons that year, including qualifying for the 2000 Boston Marathon, and have run 11 marathons since. I wanted to show people if I can do it, they can do it, too. 

We now have more than 800 Achilles athletes across Canada. We hold group runs on a weekly basic, whereby athletes and guides come together to run and train for their next upcoming race. We also help with matching athletes and guides to run and train together anywhere in Canada. Once people apply for membership through our website, my role is to pair up athletes with a running guide according to where they live. I look at an athlete’s location and find running guides who live nearby and have a similar pace.

Due to the pandemic, people’s mental health has hit an all-time low. A lot of our members live on their own and have found it tough. Living with a disability means these individuals often can’t get out if they’re stuck in a lockdown. It has been hard for them to maintain connections and socialize. Early in the pandemic we started a Social Zoom Chat so we could keep in touch with our athletes, guides and volunteers.  This gave everyone the opportunity to check-in with friends and chat about how everyone was feeling and if anyone needed support. This new program has made a world of difference in maintaining connections and a sense of community between athletes. 

Since the pandemic, Achilles Canada has expanded on our mission. We now act as a hub for services to support our athletes with continuing education programs, employment opportunities and independent living skills. Our major fundraising event takes place once a year. It’s called the annual Achilles St. Patrick’s Day 5K and 10K Race. Runners from all backgrounds and abilities take part and we typically get 1,500 to 2,000 runners. The money goes back into supporting our athletes. By providing them with the means to run outdoors, they are rediscovering their freedom.

Find out more about Achilles Canada