Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

April 2014

In This Issue

Boston Marathon

Meet Team With A Vision

Support our Marathon Team!

Please support our Team With A Vision's Boston Marathon fundraising by donating to the team today!

Donate online

INSIGHT Blog

Have you checked out the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired's new blog?

Volunteer Appreciation Brunch

Our annual Volunteer Appreciation Brunch will be next Sunday, April 20 at The Westin Copley at 11:30 a.m. The brunch celebrates our 1:1 volunteers and Marathon team members. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Event details

Thanks to our Sponsors:

Sloane Enterprises

Team With a Vision members run the Boston Marathon

Boston Strong for the Marathon

The 2014 Team With A Vision will run the Boston Marathon to raise funds and awareness for blind and visually impaired individuals in Massachusetts. This year's team is comprised of over 65 visually impaired athletes, their sighted guides, and open division runners from all over the country and Canada. They have raised over $150,000 for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired!

Join us as we cheer on our team at the Boston Marathon course next Monday, April 21! We will be at mile 24.5 on Beacon Street across from Amory Street, cheering on our runners - all are welcome!

Meet Team With A Vision Members

Meet some of our visually impaired athletes and their sighted guides that will be running the Boston Marathon next Monday!

Meet Jennifer Herring:

Jen is 39 years old and lives in Hamilton, NJ. Legally blind since birth, Jen has tried to make sure that it hasn't affected any of her goals in life. For as long as she can remember she has loved running. "I started telling people in elementary school that I would be in the Olympics. I call the Boston Marathon my Olympics," she says. Jen has participated in 21 marathons and the 2014 Boston Marathon will be her 11th consecutive Boston Marathon! Jen's goal is to run 50 marathons.

"I feel that it is important to make sure people with disabilities are aware that only they know their limits and no one should tell them what they can and can't accomplish."

Jen's sighted guide will be Dr. David Crandell:

David describes himself as "the last responder." As the Medical Director for the Amputee Program at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston, David has spent much of the last year providing treatment to the victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. He has worked with 33 victims, 16 of whom lost limbs and needed to be fitted for prostheses. A real life hero, David works with his patients to teach them that having an amputation shapes you, but it doesn't define you. This Monday David will be fulfilling a lifelong dream of racing the Boston Marathon as a sighted guide.

Meet more of the team!

About Us:

The Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a program of MAB Community Services. MABVI has been creating opportunities for blind and visually impaired individuals since 1903. Our experience allows us to forge strong community partnerships to meet the pressing need for high quality services and transform lives.