Rolling Toward Gold: Danny’s Dreams Take Flight at ZOOZ Run Club

Thirteen-year-old Danny has big dreams—Paralympic-sized dreams.

A determined athlete who uses a wheelchair, Danny is already a multi-sport competitor. He plays wheelchair basketball, handcycles, hits the court in wheelchair tennis, and has a sharp eye in archery. But above all, his heart belongs to track and field.

“You should see me on my wheels,” Danny says with a grin. “I’m like VROOM!”

That energy and passion brought Danny to the inaugural ZOOZ Fitness Run Club, which held its first official meet-up on Saturday, May 31 at Balboa Park, after weather postponed the original early-May kickoff.

Despite the late spring heat, the turnout was strong. Around a dozen athletes—along with their parents, caregivers, and several ZOOZ trainers—showed up ready to stretch, sweat, and support one another.

“We had a beautiful turnout for our first run club,” said Jake Weiner, founder of ZOOZ Fitness. “It was amazing to watch our trainers and athletes run, walk, and roll alongside each other out in the community. That’s one of our goals at ZOOZ—to bring our athletes out into the world and help change the way people view disability.”

The group began with warm-up stretches led by Jared, ZOOZ’s Fitness Director, before hitting the pavement for a one-mile run/walk/roll. Athletes were cheered on by passersby and community members as they moved through the park—sweating, huffing, laughing, and pushing each other forward.

“I used to run 5Ks with my dad,” said Cynthia, another longtime ZOOZ athlete. “And as long as I’m free, I plan to always join the run club in the future.”

After the first mile, the group cooled down with a scenic one-mile loop around the nearby lake. In total, they logged two miles together—celebrating their efforts afterward with water, Gatorade, and much-needed shade.

It was a day of connection, community, and powerful forward momentum—especially for Danny, who’s using every opportunity he can to train for his Paralympic goals.

“We’ll be back!” he promised.

The ZOOZ Run Club will continue to meet once a month, giving athletes of all abilities a place to move together, train together, and redefine what inclusion in fitness truly looks like.