Thursday 25 April, 2019…Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) today presented the Weir Archer Academy with a cheque for $20,000 (twenty thousand dollars) to support the work of the Academy in providing athlete and coaching support and expertise to disabled athletes.
The grant is part of AbbottWMM’s 2018/2019 programme supporting the work of chosen charities at each AbbottWMM race in Series XII. To leave a lasting footprint in the host cities, charities have been chosen by AbbottWMM and the race organisers that support a range of youth and active lifestyle programmes, diabetes and heart disease charities and disaster relief funds across the Series so far. 
In 2019, David Weir, CBE will line up for his 20th successive London Marathon and, in tribute to this incredible record and the way Weir has inspired so many people with a disability to take up sport, the organisers of the Virgin Money London Marathon have awarded $20,000 to the Weir Archer Academy. 
After receiving the surprise donation today, Weir said, “I am extremely grateful to receive this donation from the Abbott World Marathon Majors and would like to thank them and the Virgin Money London Marathon for all their support. 
“Jenny [Archer] and I have been working for over 30 years [the Academy began in 2012] passing on our knowledge, experience and the enjoyment we get from sport to help wheelchair athletes reach their potential whether social or elite. None of that would be possible without a lot of support and donations like this one today.” 
The second $20,000 has been added to the prize money for the inaugural Flying 400 – a sprint competition that will see a $30,000 prize fund and Abbott World Marathon Majors bonus points awarded to the fastest wheelchair athletes in the men’s and women’s races to complete a specified 400 metre time trial. The Flying 400 will start just after the 20km point (12.5 miles) of the Virgin Money London Marathon Course on the north side of Tower Bridge and finish on East Smithfield.
Tim Hadzima, Executive Director of the Abbott World Marathon Majors said, “The Abbott World Marathon Majors give back to local organisations that help get the next generation active, support local youth running clubs and inspire more people in the local community to get running or keep moving. 
“The Weir Archer Academy supports many wheelchair athletes around London and beyond, so we are delighted to help them continue their great work.”
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