Athletes of All Abilities Turn Out for The CIGNA Falmouth Road Race This Weekend
Posted Friday, 8 August, 2008
FALMOUTH, Mass., – Aug. 8, 2008 – While his eyesight may be impaired, one thing Artie Elefant sees clearly is the benefit of running and staying physically fit. Elefant is one of nearly 200 members of the CIGNA Running Team who will take part in this weekend’s 36th annual CIGNA Falmouth Road Race. He will be joined by several other inspiring CIGNA Running team members, who have overcome physical adversity, as well as CIGNA employees and customers.
This won’t be Elefant’s first time running the famous race on the Cape. He ran Falmouth back in 1981 before he lost his vision. Elefant, 63, is a member of The Achilles Track Club, which enables people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics. Twenty years ago he lost most of his vision due to a genetic disorder, retinitis pigmentosa. Elefant describes his eyesight as the equivalent of looking through a keyhole. In 2003, he was also diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Despite these challenges, he trains and competes in many endurance events including marathons, triathlons and bike tours with the assistance of volunteer guides from Achilles.
“For me, this will be an emotional return to Falmouth,” says Elefant. “I have looked forward to returning to the Cape to run this great race for many years and I am proud to be able to run with the CIGNA Running Team and my fellow Achilles members this weekend.”
Elefant is one of several athletes running with the CIGNA Running Team this weekend who despite their physical challenges are committed to healthy active lifestyles. Also joining team are two of Elefant’s fellow Achilles members from the New York chapter, Annette Rodriquez and Ben Simmons.
Rodriquez, a 38-year-old breast cancer survivor, is hearing impaired and runs with Achilles guides who serve as her ears and keep her steady if vertigo kicks in. She first learned of her cancer back in 2005 – right before she was about to run her first marathon. She has since gone into remission and ran last year’s New York City Marathon, and plans to do so again this year.
Simmons, a 34-year-old Englishman, was born with rare birth defect which resulted in an above-the-knee amputation of his left leg at age 11. He always lived a full active life, but a move to the United States in 2005 opened new doors for him, giving him the opportunity to run for the first time with a specially designed prosthesis. In May 2008, he completed his first half marathon, and is aiming to complete his first marathon in New York City later this year. Ben has also completed 100-mile bike rides, and says he has other special skills resulting from his condition including the ability to crack walnuts in his artificial knee joint.
The winner of CIGNA's national essay contest, Madison, Wis., resident Kim Virden, is also a member of the Achilles Track Club and started a local chapter in her hometown. Virden was in a severe skiing accident at age 17 and suffered a traumatic brain injury that left her with a seizure disorder, vision problems and learning disabilities. Despite this, she has achieved goals many people without her challenges might find out of their reach. As a result of Virden’s winning essay, she received an all-expense-paid trip for her and a guest to attend the 36th Annual CIGNA Falmouth Road Race.
CIGNA received a number of inspiring essays from runners all across country in response to the 2008 CIGNA Falmouth Road Race Challenge. In addition to Virden’s winning essay, four individuals were awarded with honorable mention and invited to join the CIGNA Running Team:
Sue Heinze, a six-year cancer survivor, uses running to teach her three teenage children that in the face of adversity you should never give up. She has raised a total of $30,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through the various walks, half-marathons and marathons she has participated in these past six years. This summer Sue was true to her own advice as she had a relapse and endured her third round of chemotherapy, but continued her training for Falmouth.
Sue Proulx, wrote in to share her admiration for her friend David Lowell who, as the result of an automobile accident, is paralyzed from the waist down. The last time David ran using his legs was the morning of his accident, not knowing it would be his last. When the doctor gave him the news that he would no longer be able to walk, David replied, “That’s Ok because I prefer to run.” He is now a competitive wheelchair racer and both he and Sue will be participating in the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race this year.
Audra Southerland has faced health challenges since age three when she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia. At 14, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). She turned to running at age 16 to get in shape and improve her health with hopes of keeping her MS under control. In three years, she has run 15 races and will add the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race to her list.
As a young child Jennifer Woo was diagnosed with an extremely rare, life-threatening respiratory disease and as a result struggled to speak and breathe on a daily basis. As she grew up, Jennifer found comfort and strength in running. Despite having to accommodate fluctuations in her respiratory health, Jennifer has run all over the world – from New England to Hong Kong. She has also served as a guide for the Achilles Track Club.
About CIGNA
CIGNA provides employers with benefits, expertise and services that improve the health, well-being and productivity of their employees. With approximately 47 million covered lives in the United States and around the world, CIGNA's operating subsidiaries offer a full portfolio of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits and group life, accident and disability insurance.
About the Falmouth Road Race
The Falmouth Road Race was founded in 1973 and has been named the “Best USA Road Race” by Runner’s World magazine. It has also been featured in Life Magazine and Sports Illustrated, as well as on CBS television and ESPN. In 2005, it was named in Sports Illustrated “One of the 25 essential things to do in the summer.” It was the only road race listed. Proceeds from the race benefit Falmouth school programs and youth organizations. The race annually receives more than 25,000 requests for entry forms and fills its field of 10,000 in less than a week. For more information visit www.FalmouthRoadRace.com.
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