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For the past 16 years, Laura Dwork has come out to 90th Street and Fifth Avenue every Tuesday and Saturday to take runners like Eddie Montanez around Central Park.

Montanez has been blind since he was 13 and has trained for more than a hundred races including 10 marathons with volunteers like Dwork by his side.

"She makes it fun. She makes the miles go by with a smile. So, what more could you ask for?" says Montanez.

"I don't even realize I am running with someone with a disability or feel like I am doing something out of the ordinary or running with someone who is blind," says Dwork. "We just take the tether and we go and it's like any other day. I'm just running with one of my dear friends, having a great time in the park, telling stories, laughing the entire time and actually just struggling to keep up with Eddie. He's an extremely fast runner."

Dwork and Montanez met through Achilles International, a nonprofit organization that matches volunteers with disabled athletes. Dick Traum started Achilles after he lost his leg in a car accident. The former wrestler says the group wouldn't exist without the volunteers.

"One of the themes we have is achievement and what we're really interested in doing is giving people an opportunity to do something they may have thought was impossible," says Traum.

Today, Achilles International has 10,000 members around the world and more than 400 volunteers in New York who fundraise, help in the office and at local races. And if you want to workout with an athlete, but think you’re too out of shape, Dwork says don't break a sweat.

"You don't need to be in good shape at all. We'll take any shape: round, square, whatever. We actually have a team of walkers, speed walkers, racers and we can pair up anybody with any of our athletes," says Dwork.

Dwork also has a message for aspiring athletes out there, too.

"No matter what your disability is, come out here," says Dwork You can walk, you can run, or just talk to people. Because when you're here you're a family."

So, for lacing up all year long to help these athletes find their stride, Laura Dwork is the latest New Yorker of the Week.