Grants
Hoyt Running Chair Recipients
Promoting inclusion in endurance sports through duo running. So that teams can cross the finish line together.
Carrying the Hoyts’ Work Forward
Duo running changed my life long before it became part of my work. From 5Ks to marathons, my friend, Jacob, and I have completed more than 100 races together.
Dick and Rick Hoyt were a huge influence on my career. It is an honor to carry their work forward, by promoting duo running and through the Rick Hoyt Research Lab.
Every chair we grant is a way of keeping their legacy alive.
Brendan Aylward, Founder of AdaptX
(opens in a new tab)2026 recipient
Meghan and Maeve
Awarded at 2026 Unified 5k Lancaster
Meet the Team (opens in a new tab)Maeve can’t talk, by virtue of her Cerebral Palsy, so running was a way for us to connect as kids. I remember helping her to program her first communication device, and "Go for a run" was one of the earliest buttons in there, and was used very frequently. ... I’m a better athlete because of Maeve, and I love the sport more because of her.
Meghan, Maeve’s Sister
(opens in a new tab)2026 recipient
Stephanie and Mason
Awarded at 2026 Unified 5k Brunswick
Meet the Team (opens in a new tab)Mason’s family has always embraced the mindset of living without limits, finding ways to include him in everything they do. I’ve run four marathons on my own, but the dream is to cross that finish line with Mason by my side.
Stephanie, Mason’s Home Health Nurse
2026 recipient
Sandy and Austin
Awarded at 2026 Unified 5k Dexter
We had a very sweet doctor tell me Austin wouldn’t follow any timeline, he would write his own story and I needed to enjoy every page of it. Then one day we started running just a little bit. Austin loved it! When we got him in the Hoyt chair it was amazing. He was so much more comfortable. Running with Austin has changed my life and his.
Sandy, Austin’s Mom
News (opens in a new tab)2025 recipient
Mark and Moses
Awarded at 2025 Unified 5k Twin Cities
Coverage by WCCO, CBS Minnesota
Watch the Segment (opens in a new tab)We couldn’t have picked a better recipient for our first ever running chair. Mark and Moses received their chair at the 2025 Unified 5k Twin Cities, went on to use it to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and completed the historic race in April of 2026 together.
Brendan Aylward, Founder of AdaptX
Hoyt Running Chair Rental Inventory
Loaner Chair Program
Lending our fleet of chairs to individuals and organizations
(opens in a new tab)Boston Marathon
Scott and Tatsuya
Scott and Tatsuya met at UC San Diego, where they both studied bioengineering. After Scott was diagnosed with ALS in 2021, Tatsuya saw a video from Brendan about duo running at Boston and set himself a goal. He would push his friend through that race. We loaned them a chair. On April 20, 2026 they finished in 2:54:26 and raised more than $25,000 for ALS organizations.
Watch their Story (opens in a new tab)
Across New Hampshire
Justin and Kris
Best friends, Justin and Kris wanted to run across New Hampshire and needed the equipment to do so. When they reached out, we were able to get them one of our Hoyt Running chairs to make the 150+ mile journey together. Along the way, they raised $12,000 for our grant program to give other friends and family access to this life-changing equipment.
Read the Coverage (opens in a new tab)
Where teams start
Duo Running Demo Day at the Cotting School
We marked Global Running Day at the Cotting School in Lexington with an assembly on the legacy of Dick and Rick Hoyt, and then gave more than 20 students the opportunity to experience duo running. This sport is for every body.
Bring a Demo Day to Your SchoolKnow a duo team who needs a chair?
Applications are open to established duo teams. Priority is given to recipients in communities where we race but all submissions will be considered.
Apply for a Running Chair (opens in a new tab)