On August 25-26, 2023, 12 adaptive athletes representing Team So Every BODY Can Move joined over 20,000 runners for the start of the two-day Hood to Coast race in Oregon. Known as the “Mother of All Relays,” Hood to Coast is the most popular and largest running and walking relay race in the world, yet people with disabilities make up less than 1% of racers. This fact is directly related to the mission of So Every BODY Can Move: to increase access to orthotics and prosthetics for physical activity. Alma McCarty covered the story for KGW-TV.
Among the team members were disability rights advocates Nicole Ver Kuilen (@runforreststump) and Kyle Stepp (@kylestepp) who have played an important role in helping to pass legislation supporting the campaign in other states. “Our athletes who are part of our team, So Every BODY Can Move, have a similar story of the barriers we faced to be active again after suffering limb loss or limb difference,” said Nicole. In 36 hours, the team ran 198 miles from Mount Hood to Seaside. Their goal was to promote the disabled community and advocate for insurance fairness so that everyone has the right to physical activity.
The Amputee Coalition is proud to support this campaign along with the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association, National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics, and the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetics. Amputee Coalition’s Ashlie White, chief programs officer, and Natalie Harold, resource development manager, were on site.
The team’s fundraising goal was to raise $50,000 with every dollar contributed to the movement for disability rights and the legislative initiative. If you’d like to support the team’s mission and ongoing fight for access, please visit their fundraising page.
If you would like to learn more about So Every BODY Can Move and stay up to date, follow the campaign’s Instagram (@soeverybodycanmove).