EQUAL START GRANT

Neutralizing the Hidden Costs of Racing Financial status should never dictate athletic potential. Yet for millions of athletes, competing in a world-class marathon requires significantly more than an entry fee. Specialized equipment transport, mandatory support staff, travel logistics, and secondary accommodations create an invisible financial barrier: the Disability Tax. The Equal Start Grant exists to systematically eliminate that barrier. We deliver direct, non-dilutive grant funding that levels the playing field–ensuring every athlete can line up with complete independence, safety, and dignity.

Ending the Disability Tax

Competing at an elite or recreational level requires standard registration fees, travel, and lodging. For athletes competing with a disability, medical
condition, or adaptive needs, those baseline expenses are multiplied by systemic logistical friction. The Equal Start Grant directly neutralizes this extra financial strain. We do not offer charity or partial subsidies; instead, we provide targeted grants that offset the secondary costs unique to adaptive and disabled competition. This includes neutralizing double travel and lodging expenses for essential support staff, securing accessible hotel options near start lines without peak price penalties, and funding freight shipping for heavy, oversized equipment like handcycles, racing wheelchairs, and tandem bikes across international borders.

The “Plus One” Protocol

True independence in sport is rooted in self-determination. An athlete’s choice of guide, tether runner, or support assistant is personal, tactical, and vital to safety. Under our flagship “Plus One” Protocol, grant funding guarantees that whenever an athlete competes, their chosen support staff travels alongside them under fully funded, equal conditions.

Support staff are chosen entirely at the athlete’s discretion–whether that means bringing a long-time personal guide or accepting one provided by the race organization. When an athlete chooses to bring their own trusted support team, the grant covers 100% of the resulting round-trip travel, local transit, and lodging costs so that personal preference and field safety never carry an unfair financial penalty.

How the Grant Operates

Guided by the principle of Independent Racing, our funding structure ensures an athlete’s focus on race day belongs entirely to athletic execution rather than financial strain. Through direct grant awards and race partnerships, we ensure registration equity by covering entry fees and specialized category surcharges, absorb full transit and accommodation expenses for verified support staff of choice, and handle the complex customs and transport logistics for specialized racing gear.

Apply

Applications for The Equal Start Grant are accepted on a rolling, year-round basis for marathon and endurance events worldwide. Grants are evaluated continuously and awarded based on demonstrated logistical need, available funding capacity, and event status.

To apply for grant support or inquire about assistance for an upcoming race,
please contact our team directly at info@axessinclusion.org