Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Sunday Morning
Interview With Trisha Meili
Aired June 29, 2003 - 07:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: You may not recognize Trisha Meili, but you know her story. She's the author of "I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility." In the book she writes about her survival from a brutal attack in New York's Central Park in 1989. Trisha Meili joins us now from the park where in about an hour, she's taking part in a charity run, the Hope and Possibilities 5 Mile Run and Walk, a run conducted in her honor.
Good morning, Trisha. How are you?
TRISHA MEILI, CENTRAL PARK JOGGER: Hi, Kelli. I'm fine, thanks.
ARENA: Tell us about this run? Why is it so important to you?
MEILI: It's so important to me in part because it's being sponsored by Achilles. And you know, Achilles athletes have really inspired me since I first went running with them, back when I was at Gaylord Hospital, which is where I was for rehabilitation.
And even the physical therapists who I first went running with is here today. And you know, Achilles Athletes, they're just trying to regain something that's lost in the physical realm. And I've seen in myself and in other people that the confidence that's gained in reaching a physical goal can be transferred to other aspects of your life, like work, or school, or in relationships.
And it's just such a powerful community.
ARENA: Trisha, tell us a little bit about Achilles. Many of our viewers are not familiar with the organization.
MEILI: Well, it was founded about 20 years ago by Dick Tramm (ph), who's an above the knee amputee. And it gets Achilles athletes all over the world to run in races with the able body and trying to integrate able bodied and disabled, and saying it doesn't matter that you have a disability. Look at what you can do.
ARENA: Now this run actually crosses the area where you were attacked. How does it feel for you to run past that stretch of the park?
MEILI: Yes. I tell you, it just reminds me of how far I've come and what, you know, what the body and mind is capable of doing. And I guess that's what it means to me.
ARENA: What do you think you have learned most about yourself after that tragic day?
MEILI: Wow, that's a big question. I guess I've learned that, you know, we can come back. We can come back with the love and support of other people. There is that sense of possibility that emerges from hope.
ARENA: Now are there lots of volunteers who are -- all of the runners predominantly disabled in some way and proving that, hey, this is not going to get in our way?
MEILI: It's a combination of the volunteers we have, you know, a tremendous number of volunteers who really help and support the disabled athletes. And you're absolutely right, that's the idea. We're all struggling with some kind of challenge and achieving them. And that's what for me is so rewarding about being a part of this organization, because you see...
ARENA: Trisha, thank you so much. I know -- we have to go. I'm so sorry. We could go on forever. Have a good run.
MEILI: Well, thank you.
ARENA: Bye-bye.
MEILI: Thank you very much. Bye-bye.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 29, 2003 - 07:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: You may not recognize Trisha Meili, but you know her story. She's the author of "I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility." In the book she writes about her survival from a brutal attack in New York's Central Park in 1989. Trisha Meili joins us now from the park where in about an hour, she's taking part in a charity run, the Hope and Possibilities 5 Mile Run and Walk, a run conducted in her honor.
Good morning, Trisha. How are you?
TRISHA MEILI, CENTRAL PARK JOGGER: Hi, Kelli. I'm fine, thanks.
ARENA: Tell us about this run? Why is it so important to you?
MEILI: It's so important to me in part because it's being sponsored by Achilles. And you know, Achilles athletes have really inspired me since I first went running with them, back when I was at Gaylord Hospital, which is where I was for rehabilitation.
And even the physical therapists who I first went running with is here today. And you know, Achilles Athletes, they're just trying to regain something that's lost in the physical realm. And I've seen in myself and in other people that the confidence that's gained in reaching a physical goal can be transferred to other aspects of your life, like work, or school, or in relationships.
And it's just such a powerful community.
ARENA: Trisha, tell us a little bit about Achilles. Many of our viewers are not familiar with the organization.
MEILI: Well, it was founded about 20 years ago by Dick Tramm (ph), who's an above the knee amputee. And it gets Achilles athletes all over the world to run in races with the able body and trying to integrate able bodied and disabled, and saying it doesn't matter that you have a disability. Look at what you can do.
ARENA: Now this run actually crosses the area where you were attacked. How does it feel for you to run past that stretch of the park?
MEILI: Yes. I tell you, it just reminds me of how far I've come and what, you know, what the body and mind is capable of doing. And I guess that's what it means to me.
ARENA: What do you think you have learned most about yourself after that tragic day?
MEILI: Wow, that's a big question. I guess I've learned that, you know, we can come back. We can come back with the love and support of other people. There is that sense of possibility that emerges from hope.
ARENA: Now are there lots of volunteers who are -- all of the runners predominantly disabled in some way and proving that, hey, this is not going to get in our way?
MEILI: It's a combination of the volunteers we have, you know, a tremendous number of volunteers who really help and support the disabled athletes. And you're absolutely right, that's the idea. We're all struggling with some kind of challenge and achieving them. And that's what for me is so rewarding about being a part of this organization, because you see...
ARENA: Trisha, thank you so much. I know -- we have to go. I'm so sorry. We could go on forever. Have a good run.
MEILI: Well, thank you.
ARENA: Bye-bye.
MEILI: Thank you very much. Bye-bye.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
