The University of Arizona Adaptive Athletics program hosted its annual Jim Click’s Run ‘N’ Roll on the UA Mall on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 a.m. 

The Run ‘N’ Roll event is a race that is open to the public and consists of a timed 5K race and a one mile race. Options are available to people of all ages and capabilities as all members of Tucson are encouraged to participate. 

The event came to be through Jim Click, the founder of the Run ‘N’ Roll. Click’s association with the event began back in 1981 when Richard Nolen, an employee and friend of Click suffered a life-altering injury, leaving him quadriplegic. Click began to invest time and money into the Adaptive Athletics program here at Arizona. He put time into various Adaptive Athletics races and events, eventually establishing what is now one of the most well-known races in Tucson: Jim Click’s Run ‘N’ Roll. 

“This race is the largest fundraiser for the UA Adaptive Athletics program,” said Autumn Ball, the race organizer and member of the Southern Arizona Roadrunners. 

“Tucson is by far one of the most supportive and welcoming communities that I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with. All of the runners participate and they come out and cheer for everybody,” Ball said. 

Family, friends and fans lined up by the UA Mall in support of all the participants. The participants and families ran by pushing loved ones in wheelchairs, giving them a chance to engage in a race-like feeling. 

Michelle Nolen, a UA Eller MBA alumni and recurring attendee of the Run ‘N’ Roll, described her experience attending the annual event.

“I’m a parent and we usually push my son. He’s not here today but Connie is the mother of Nico and so we pushed him today […]. We make sure that all athletes of all abilities can participate just like anybody who is able-bodied or neurotypical. So we make sure everybody can be included and enjoy racing just like anybody else,” Nolen said.

Nolen was also part of a group that assisted with the event by handing out coffees and cheering on the participants. 

Alongside these families and supporters participating are athletes who are training for bigger competitions in the running world. 

“We have never done this race before, but we run and race frequently,” first time participants Ken Peterson and Adelaide Perr said.

“We were just commenting on how many people we see out on races regularly that we don’t know but we recognize. Tucson has just such a nice running community,” said Peterson and Perr. 

The two athletes placed in the top three for both men’s and women’s racers in the event and were rewarded at the end with a prize. 

People from countless backgrounds including athletes of all levels, families and friends from around the community were brought together as everyone came out in support of Adaptive Athletics to help raise money for the future of the program and its athletes. 

Over 400 people attended the event with many of them being families with children or loved ones in wheelchairs. This was the largest crowd the event has recorded since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The University of Arizona’s adaptive track and field team was in attendance too. Pete Hughes, the director of Adaptive Athletics at the UA, showed his support and appreciation by making an appearance at the event as well. 

“[The Run ‘N’ Roll] introduces a lot of people to our program and our wheelchair racers. We have had 55 paralympians come through our program. A lot of people don’t know that, so this is a way of just coming out here and celebrating that,” Hughes said. 

This event marked the 50th anniversary of the Adaptive Athletics program and vendors lined the end of the UA Mall free of charge. The vendors included Raising Canes, a fast food chain, and the Southern Arizona Roadrunners, a non-profit organization promoting health and fitness in Tucson. 

Attendees set up tents across the area filled with shaded seating and provided food and beverages like bagels, bananas and water for all participants. 

The event served as a celebration for how far people have come in recognizing Adaptive Athletics and the potential these athletes have. Smiles were plastered all over the faces of countless attendees, a common theme for the Run ‘N’ Roll.

“It’s like having a big birthday bash for Adaptive Athletics,” Hughes said. 

Members from all over the community and various organizations showed up and worked together to make this race happen efficiently and effectively. 

The Southern Arizona Roadrunners organize events like Jim Click’s Run ‘N’ Roll frequently and information concerning upcoming races and events can be found on their website.

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