This weekend you can run, walk or handcycle along Michigan’s lakeshore and help raise funds for those who are blind or have low vision. Saturday marks the 19th year for the annual Run for Sight 5K held at the Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon.
The Run for Sight 5K raise funds for the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. For over 110 years, ABVI has been helping individuals with low vision or blindness live in a sighted world. Each year, ABVI serves around 1,000 children and adults from across the state, providing programs and assistance for people living with visual impairments or blindness.
“We are geared towards finding ways to make the world an accessible place and we do that primarily through our vision rehabilitation program,” said ABVI development director Tim Tuthill. “Our vision rehab therapists go out into the community each and every day and they’re teaching people how to use the white cane. For someone who has macular degeneration or another disease that is taking away their vision, we’re working with them to use that remaining vision in different ways.”
What makes the Run for Sight 5K stand out, is that it’s designed to be accessible for people navigating those very challenges. Guides volunteer alongside walkers and runners, verbally assisting with navigation along the course.
Back again this year is a 5K handcycle division, welcoming entry level handcyclists. Kids will also have a 1K run to participate in, where all racers receive a T-shirt and medal.
The event kicks off at Pere Marquette Park in Muskegon with the handcycle race at 8:30am, followed by the 5K, the walk, and the kids dash. Participants can register all the way up to race morning and all ages are welcome.
To sign up or learn more about Run for Sight, visit www.maryfreebed.com/Run4Sight
MEDIA COVERAGE:
- Listen on WOOD Radio’s website or re-watch the Facebook live
- Hear the segment on The Shelley Irwin Show
- Watch WOOD TV’s interview with Tim
