Atlanta, GA,
05
October
2020
|
14:49 PM
America/New_York

Shepherd Center's AJC Peachtree Road Race Wheelchair Division Goes Virtual

Atlanta Track Club and Shepherd Center partner to make wheelchair division of the virtual AJC Peachtree Road Race accessible to all.

One of the AJC Peachtree Road Race’s most beloved traditions will expand in 2020. Atlanta Track Club and Shepherd Center announced that Shepherd Center’s AJC Peachtree Road Race Wheelchair Division of the Virtual Running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race -- a race within the race -- will be open to all wheelchair athletes regardless of pace and experience.

Traditionally held as an elite-only division, the virtual nature of this year’s event eliminates space and time restrictions meaning anyone can register to take part. Registration is open now.

“The Peachtree has always been a race for everyone,” said Rich Kenah, Atlanta Track Club’s executive director and race director of the AJC Peachtree Road Race. “With participants able to be a part of the celebration regardless of where they are, we look forward to bringing this Atlanta tradition to runners, walkers and wheelers all over the world."

The Virtual Running of the AJC Peachtree Road Race will kick off on Thanksgiving Day and be open through 11:59 p.m. on November 29. Race kits, including the coveted AJC Peachtree Road Race finisher’s shirt, will be delivered in October. Participants will be invited to download the AJC Peachtree Road Race app, where they will be able to track their progress on the traditional Peachtree course, hear the familiar sounds of the race and record their results. The app will be available in early November.

“2020 has been a year unlike any other, and Shepherd Center is proud to take part in bringing the time-honored tradition to an even larger group of people,” says Rebecca Washburn, MS, manager of Shepherd Center’s Beyond Therapy® and wellness programs. “In this 38th year of Shepherd Center's AJC Peachtree Road Race Wheelchair Division, we hope to offer a virtual experience that will engage our longtime athletes and bring new wheelers and supporters to the Peachtree.”

When registering here, elite wheelers can enter the promotion code SHEPHERDELITE for free registration. Open wheelers can enter promotional code SHEPHERDOPEN for free registration. Free registrations are limited and are granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration ends November 1.

The Peachtree has also added a division for push-assist athletes, which is also historically only available to athletes who meet certain qualifying standards.

Held on the Fourth of July since 1970, the AJC Peachtree Road Race was moved to Thanksgiving Day in 2020 in hopes of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as cases continued to climb, Atlanta Track Club decided to hold the race virtually to keep participants, volunteers and staff safe. 

About Shepherd Center

Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems, Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.