Achilles Hope & Possibility 5M NYC - Sunday, June 24, 2012
Enza Jacobowitz was so inspired by Trisha Meili's book, that she asked her to be the Keynote speaker at an event at her place of work. Trisha subsequently invited Enza and her husband to attend the Achilles Dinner Gala in November of 2005. Enza had an immediate connection to the FREEDOM TEAM since her brother Louie was serving in the Army and her husband Richard was a Marine. Consequently, she participated in both the 2006 and 2007 Hope and Possibility Races. Afterwards, she spoke with her brother on the phone about seeing the recently wounded veterans running on their prosthetics and racing in handcycles so soon post injury. Louie vowed that, when he returned from his tour in Iraq, he would participate with his sister. Sadly, three months later on September 20, 2007, CPL Louie Marciante Jr. was killed in combat.
Despite the tragic loss of her beloved brother, Enza did something extraordinary. She created a team called Support Our Soldiers, a group of Gold Star Families that would unite each year at the Hope & Possibility Race to endow handcycles for the FREEDOM TEAM in memory of their fallen family members. Support our Soldiers, now four hundred strong, has raised over $100,000 and endowed twenty-six handcycles for the Freedom Team. "Louie would have been so proud, "Enza exclaimed! Even though Louie is not physically at Hope & Possibility each year, he is present in spirit and his legacy will live on forever. We will never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. Enza received the Service Member of the Year Award at our 2010 Achilles dinner and is an active board member.
To view a slideshow of this event click here!
To view photos from this event click here!
To learn more about the Achilles Freedom Team click here!