Many have asked me how I play since I am blind and my pat answer is."both with assistance and very carefully". When I'm not burning up the race course with my buddy, Matt, I play goalie on a Wheelchair Team Handball team. I am planning to attend Kyle Pease's alma mater, Kennesaw State to earn my bachelors in Public Relations.
I refuse to let my disabilities stop me though as I attended public school for most of my academic life and attended Chattanooga Technical College, earning my associates degree in Technical Communications. I can actually see a little bit, but don't do very well recognizing people. I am also legally blind due to optic nerve atrophy.
I am 24-years-old and, like Kyle, I have cerebral palsy, the result of a premature birth. I'd like to tell you a little about myself. He really seems to understand me and works hard to make the running experience meaningful for both of us. He says that I inspire him, but I honestly feel that he inspires me equally. I couldn't have been paired with a better running partner than Matt and I am so grateful for his friendship. We go waaaay back as we met each other about two or three minutes before our first race in March, the Publix 5K. I participated in each events with my new friend, my "brother", my inspiration, my mentor, Matt Sours. As Kyle told you, my name is Ricardo Aranda and I am now a two-time KPeasey athlete. I'm honored to be given the opportunity to share Kyle's blog space with him and with Matt. Monuments such as the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorials and of course the Iwo Jima Memorial, which sits in the distance at the start of this incredible athletic event. We look forward to the opportunity of running by some of the biggest monuments with some of the most historical importance in our country's long and incredible history. This week is all about raising awareness to the people of the United States and to share the message of what the Kyle Pease Foundation is all about. We are strong, we are courageous and as a Nation, we are better together than we are apart.Īs our athletes run and roll through the Nation's capital it is important to reflect on these thoughts and ideals. Inclusion of people from other countries, inclusion of our ancestors, inclusion of the strong and the weak, inclusion of those different from ourselves and of course, inclusion of those with challenges. We are a country that was built on inclusion.
On the week leading up to America's most prestigious race, The Marine Corps Marathon, I can't help but be reminded of what inclusion is all about.
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