My name is Aerelle Jones. I am a wheelchair racer from Jessamine County, Kentucky and this year my goal is to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Time Trials.
I began wheelchair racing in the fall of 2012 with a mission to make the Paralympic team. Little did I know how much I had to learn. Having no one and no programs to help me get started, my dad and I watched Youtube videos, figuring it out as we went along. I started with local 5k and 10k races. Through scouring the internet, I found out-of-state races that had established wheelchair divisions. I excitedly entered into those races and found that my times improved because of competition. Four years ago I found out about track competitions. Realizing that there would be even more people at these events, although I knew nothing about track, I knew I had to learn. That year I made Junior Nationals and was named High School All-American. I have improved a lot since then.
I am still a ways from making my Paralympic dreams but way closer than when I started. Now far from my beginnings in a regular wheelchair and taped gardening gloves, I have competed all over the US including the states of Arizona, New Jersey, Indiana, California, Georgia, and South Carolina. This season my goal is to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Time Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Who knows where I will go from there?
My Goals are bigger than just what I can do. One of my goals is to involve more people in adaptive sports. My dad is the only certified adaptive track and field coach in the state of Kentucky. We are both constantly approaching others with disabilities and encouraging them to engage in adaptive sports. I would love to see more people participating because it has improved so many areas of my life. I know it can make an impact in others’ lives, too.
Please help me meet my goals.
Here are some of my specific needs:
Equipment and Competition: $6750
New Racing Wheelchair $2500
I began wheelchair racing in the fall of 2012 with a mission to make the Paralympic team. Little did I know how much I had to learn. Having no one and no programs to help me get started, my dad and I watched Youtube videos, figuring it out as we went along. I started with local 5k and 10k races. Through scouring the internet, I found out-of-state races that had established wheelchair divisions. I excitedly entered into those races and found that my times improved because of competition. Four years ago I found out about track competitions. Realizing that there would be even more people at these events, although I knew nothing about track, I knew I had to learn. That year I made Junior Nationals and was named High School All-American. I have improved a lot since then.
I am still a ways from making my Paralympic dreams but way closer than when I started. Now far from my beginnings in a regular wheelchair and taped gardening gloves, I have competed all over the US including the states of Arizona, New Jersey, Indiana, California, Georgia, and South Carolina. This season my goal is to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Time Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Who knows where I will go from there?
My Goals are bigger than just what I can do. One of my goals is to involve more people in adaptive sports. My dad is the only certified adaptive track and field coach in the state of Kentucky. We are both constantly approaching others with disabilities and encouraging them to engage in adaptive sports. I would love to see more people participating because it has improved so many areas of my life. I know it can make an impact in others’ lives, too.
Please help me meet my goals.
Here are some of my specific needs:
Equipment and Competition: $6750
New Racing Wheelchair $2500