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For 25 years Jim Click has been racing to support the
Adaptive Athletic Program at the University of Arizona.
His involvement began in 1981 when Richard Nolen, a body
repair man working for Mr. Click, was injured in a touch
football game with a group of his co-workers. His
injury, a broken his neck, left him a C 6-7
quadriplegic. Jim visited Richard in the hospital
assuring him he would do all he could to help him, and
he did. After extensive rehab in Colorado Richard
returned to the UA and began participating in the
Adaptive Athletic Program. He had a very
successful athletic career in wheelchair track and road
racing as well as receiving a Masters in Business, he
works today for the Jim Click Automotive Team as the
Business Manager and Controller.
Jim Click followed
Richard's progress in the Adaptive Athletics Program and
actively supported its fundraising efforts. Jim would
join all of the athletes in the "Push-N-Plod" Wheel and
Jogathon every fall semester, raising pledges by sitting
down in a sports wheelchair and pushing for hours around
the University track. Jim pushed his way around the
track every year until it was decided to take the event
it to another level and create a race for the Tucson
community.
In 1995 Coach Dick Tomey
lent his name to the event called The Dick Tomey Pony
Express. Jim provided the grand prize a new Mustang.
The year 2000 brought the final change to the race to
Jim Click’s Run N Roll. Former UA Track Coach Dave
Murray stepped in to design a fast, flat, fun course on
the beautiful UA campus. This annual event has given
the Adaptive Athletic Program the needed funds to become
a national leader in wheelchair sports. We are grateful
for Jim Click’s support over the past 25 years.
I strongly encourage you to join our "Friends of
Champions" and help this highly valuable
program continue to fulfill the dreams of future
athletes.
This race is an acknowledgment of Jim and Vicki Click’s
support of the Adaptive Athletic Program, which has now
become a national model.
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