Muskegon native Cati Currier during a race in Grand Rapids.
(Photo courtesy of Jason Goorman)
By Kristi Rop
LocalSportsJournal.com
Most people take life and good health for granted. We think bad things only happen to other people, not us. But what if your life changed overnight and you became those, “other people?” Life can change In an instant and you can either adapt, or sit on the sidelines and watch the world pass you by.
Terence Rueben, co-founder of the local West Michigan non-profit organization, myTEAMTRIUMPH, has discovered a better way to avoid the sidelines.
In 2008, Reuben started myTEAMTRIUMPH. It promotes racing opportunities for individuals with disabilities by using teams of Angels (able bodied athletes) to help Captains (individuals with disabilities), compete and complete local road races and triathlons. It is now a national organization with 14 chapters across the country.
Reuben is the current President of the National Board of directors of myTEAMTRIUMPH Inc, and President/Executive Director of the West Michigan Chapter. It was created for children, teens, athletes and veterans who are disabled and would not normally be able to experience endurance events such as triathlons or other road races, such as marathons.
Angels, by definition, are athletes that push or pull the team Captain during the race. Whether it’s a road race, bike race or triathlon. These races are able to put rider athletes in a position to compete in something they wouldn’t normally be able to do with a disability.
Cati Currier, 33, is a huge advocate of the organization and the power it returns to the disabled runners. The Muskegon resident lost her vision when she was just 3 months old.
“I never remember having sight, so I’ve always said, I’ve always been blind,” said Currier. She may have lost her sight, but she hasn’t lost the fight or will to compete.
In 2016, Currier competed in her first race for myTEAM TRIUMPH. It was a very ambitious 26.2 mile race. Her father brought her to that race and was quite surprised she hadn’t started her journey with a much smaller race. “This is a BIG race,” her father said. And so it began, her love of running with the Angel. Recently, she competed in her 100th race.
When competing, whether it’s a triathlon, bike or road race, each Captain usually has 4-5 Angels, helping throughout the race. The Angels push or pull their Captain, as well as transfer them from cart to inflatable boat or trailer on the back of a bike. Every Angel plays a pivotal role in the duration of each event.
Currier began her love of running in the ninth grade where she ran cross country for Grand Haven High School.
“I loved running, but practices were daily and it was very time consuming. It was a whole other animal,” said Currier. “Not being able to see and all had its challenges. I had a fantastic coach too. He didn’t treat me any differently than the other girls.”
Lexi De Los Reyes, a friend of Currier, was involved with Ainsley’s Angels, another foundation aiding disabled runners to compete in road races and triathlons. She and Currier got pretty close over the years and Currier was intrigued with the many races her friend was competing in that took her all over the country. myTeamTriumph races do not cover the entire country, which makes Ainsley’s Angels a great option to the serious runners.
“myTEAM TRIUMPH has made such a difference in my life, and the lives of so many runners with disabilities,” said Currier. “And I am so thankful.”
The selfless Currier dedicates each and every race solely to De Los Reyes, 22, whom she met online about 10 years ago. De Los Reyes suffers from Neurofibromatosis type I, a disease that causes tumors to grow all over her body. The two, who refer to one another as Big Sis/Little Sis, originally bonded over their loss of sight.
Due to complications from her disease, De Los Reyes lost her sight in 2012 following brain surgery. She also has cancer and is a diabetic. Her left side is completely paralyzed and she has short-term memory issues as well as a host of other issues.
Currier honors her dear friend in every single race. She wears a headband, sweatshirt and t-shirt that says I run for her. She also collects and sends a medal to De Los Reyes following every completed race.
“As far as I’m concerned,” said Currier, “ she (De Los Reyes) deserves that medal more than I ever could. I run for her!”
Although most of Currier’s races are with myTEAMTRIUMPH, she’s hoping to connect with De Los Reyes and Ainsley’s Angels to run together in the near future. The goal is for Currier to be De Los Reyes’ Angel. “I would push her with help,” said Currier. The race most likely will be in Oregon.
The leaders of the organization have already told Currier that they could make it happen. Currier is “over the moon” excited about that day becoming a reality in the near future.
If you love to run or do triathlons there’s nothing better than myTEAMTRIUMPH,” said Currier. “A lot of folks with disabilities have Captains that have actually died since 2016. So for someone who loves to run and has a disability that has taken your life, this gives them a reason to look forward to something.”
Currier continues to praise the myTEAMTRIUMPH organization and says volunteers are desperately needed.
“We love being able to do this, but we can’t do it without people helping us,” she said. “The more the merrier. Just give it a try. You’ll love it.”
If you don’t feel like you’re able to run, ride or swim it’s ok, there are numerous ways to volunteer. You don’t have to be an Angel, you can volunteer to set up or tear down, before or after an event, do registration or any number of helpful duties.
Always be thankful and appreciate what you have, you never know when you might need an Angel.
LocalSportsJournal.com
Most people take life and good health for granted. We think bad things only happen to other people, not us. But what if your life changed overnight and you became those, “other people?” Life can change In an instant and you can either adapt, or sit on the sidelines and watch the world pass you by.
Terence Rueben, co-founder of the local West Michigan non-profit organization, myTEAMTRIUMPH, has discovered a better way to avoid the sidelines.
In 2008, Reuben started myTEAMTRIUMPH. It promotes racing opportunities for individuals with disabilities by using teams of Angels (able bodied athletes) to help Captains (individuals with disabilities), compete and complete local road races and triathlons. It is now a national organization with 14 chapters across the country.
Reuben is the current President of the National Board of directors of myTEAMTRIUMPH Inc, and President/Executive Director of the West Michigan Chapter. It was created for children, teens, athletes and veterans who are disabled and would not normally be able to experience endurance events such as triathlons or other road races, such as marathons.
Angels, by definition, are athletes that push or pull the team Captain during the race. Whether it’s a road race, bike race or triathlon. These races are able to put rider athletes in a position to compete in something they wouldn’t normally be able to do with a disability.
Cati Currier, 33, is a huge advocate of the organization and the power it returns to the disabled runners. The Muskegon resident lost her vision when she was just 3 months old.
“I never remember having sight, so I’ve always said, I’ve always been blind,” said Currier. She may have lost her sight, but she hasn’t lost the fight or will to compete.
In 2016, Currier competed in her first race for myTEAM TRIUMPH. It was a very ambitious 26.2 mile race. Her father brought her to that race and was quite surprised she hadn’t started her journey with a much smaller race. “This is a BIG race,” her father said. And so it began, her love of running with the Angel. Recently, she competed in her 100th race.
When competing, whether it’s a triathlon, bike or road race, each Captain usually has 4-5 Angels, helping throughout the race. The Angels push or pull their Captain, as well as transfer them from cart to inflatable boat or trailer on the back of a bike. Every Angel plays a pivotal role in the duration of each event.
Currier began her love of running in the ninth grade where she ran cross country for Grand Haven High School.
“I loved running, but practices were daily and it was very time consuming. It was a whole other animal,” said Currier. “Not being able to see and all had its challenges. I had a fantastic coach too. He didn’t treat me any differently than the other girls.”
Lexi De Los Reyes, a friend of Currier, was involved with Ainsley’s Angels, another foundation aiding disabled runners to compete in road races and triathlons. She and Currier got pretty close over the years and Currier was intrigued with the many races her friend was competing in that took her all over the country. myTeamTriumph races do not cover the entire country, which makes Ainsley’s Angels a great option to the serious runners.
“myTEAM TRIUMPH has made such a difference in my life, and the lives of so many runners with disabilities,” said Currier. “And I am so thankful.”
The selfless Currier dedicates each and every race solely to De Los Reyes, 22, whom she met online about 10 years ago. De Los Reyes suffers from Neurofibromatosis type I, a disease that causes tumors to grow all over her body. The two, who refer to one another as Big Sis/Little Sis, originally bonded over their loss of sight.
Due to complications from her disease, De Los Reyes lost her sight in 2012 following brain surgery. She also has cancer and is a diabetic. Her left side is completely paralyzed and she has short-term memory issues as well as a host of other issues.
Currier honors her dear friend in every single race. She wears a headband, sweatshirt and t-shirt that says I run for her. She also collects and sends a medal to De Los Reyes following every completed race.
“As far as I’m concerned,” said Currier, “ she (De Los Reyes) deserves that medal more than I ever could. I run for her!”
Although most of Currier’s races are with myTEAMTRIUMPH, she’s hoping to connect with De Los Reyes and Ainsley’s Angels to run together in the near future. The goal is for Currier to be De Los Reyes’ Angel. “I would push her with help,” said Currier. The race most likely will be in Oregon.
The leaders of the organization have already told Currier that they could make it happen. Currier is “over the moon” excited about that day becoming a reality in the near future.
If you love to run or do triathlons there’s nothing better than myTEAMTRIUMPH,” said Currier. “A lot of folks with disabilities have Captains that have actually died since 2016. So for someone who loves to run and has a disability that has taken your life, this gives them a reason to look forward to something.”
Currier continues to praise the myTEAMTRIUMPH organization and says volunteers are desperately needed.
“We love being able to do this, but we can’t do it without people helping us,” she said. “The more the merrier. Just give it a try. You’ll love it.”
If you don’t feel like you’re able to run, ride or swim it’s ok, there are numerous ways to volunteer. You don’t have to be an Angel, you can volunteer to set up or tear down, before or after an event, do registration or any number of helpful duties.
Always be thankful and appreciate what you have, you never know when you might need an Angel.
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