Running Blind News
Running Blind has been helping Khara Gilmore with guide support since October 2022. She ran CC for Forsythe Middle School (in Ann Arbor MI), and plans to run track also. Pictured are guides Kai (left) and Diane (right) (who both run CC for Ypsilanti H.S.) along with Khara and myself. Kia and Diane ran with Khara all winter at EMU's Bowen Field House (along with the AATC Youth Team).
Running Blind supports Justice Richard Bernstein in the 2019 Detroit Marathon. (October 2019) Running Blind supported Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein compete his first marathon in 7 years. His guide is Sara Reichert who is a RB volunteer and was a fellow Ford employee with Hal for many years. Sara was an All-American runner at MSU. Richard was seriously injured in an accident in NYC in 2012, and this was his first marathon since his accident.
Running Blind faces a funding shortfall. (July 2020) In order to maintain the commitments we have to our runners and youth Adventure Camps, we need more support. The Gallup Gallop income dropped off and I had to give it up. We have lost some money in 2018 due to the combined commitment of our sponsorship of the Adv. Camp and our other expenses coupled with lower donation support this year. (The camps have become the most meaningful thing we do.) We didn't have many expenses in 2019 but did have some and they exceeded our donations.
We need help! Please consider a one time or annual donation.
Welcome to Osman and Abby! (December 2018) I'm very happy to announce that Osman will return along with his new fiance' Abby and both will be helping Running Blind in 2018. Abby will help with communications, and Ozzie with fundraising. Glad to have you back Ozzie- I mean Osman, and welcome aboard Abby! (And congratulations on your engagement!)
Running Blind 2018 Annual Report (December 2018) The highlight for 2018 was that we co-sponsored and participated in an awesome adventure camp in northern Michigan along with OUB. You can find a recap of Running Blind activities in our 2018 Annual Report.
2018 Adventure Camp is a big success! (July 2018) The 2018 adventure camp was an ambitious 9 day trip that included 8 visually impaired youth, and 10 staff members, 9 of whom are visually impaired, and a few OUB (Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind) support people and a couple of adult volunteers such as myself. (It s a huge effort, on the part of Gwen Botting of OUB, her entire staff, with help from me.) It started in the UP and ended on a spectacular day on Lake Charlevoix with all of the kids and staffers enjoying a nice boat ride and most also enjoying some tubing behind the boat. Adventure Camp Reports
Tom Gardner steps down as RB Webmaster (February 2018) Tom has been the person in charge of the Running Blind website since we started in 2013. He's done a lot of great work over the years and the only payment he has accepted was an occasional lunch, generally at Potbellys in Ann Arbor. But as he's moving into his 70s, he has decided that he would like less responsibility and more time to enjoy himself, so he has elected to step down. For the time being Hal is going to handle the updates, but at some point, we will be looking for someone to take over. (Pictured below is Tom (on left) with Hal.)
Running Blind 2017 Annual Report (February 2018) Highlights for 2017 were that we had two new successful pairings established and another Gallup Gallop fundraiser. You can find a recap of Running Blind activities in our 2017 Annual Report.
New Running Blind member Saraelizebeth (June 2017) Saraelizabeth and Guide Mary Miilu participated in the Run For Your Life 5K in Holland MI on October 30, 2017. It was the first event for this pair that were introduced this summer based on a request form Saraelizabeth and a guide search we conducted for her. Hopefully more events will follow!
Introducing Geri, our new Communications Director (April 2017) Geri Feigelson took over for Hope as our communications Director earlier this year. Hope is still an active runner, but she is starting some more education efforts and has decided to focus on that on a new (well seasoned) house she purchased in 2016. I have known Geri for a number of years through the Ski For Light group that I also have worked with for the past 5 years. She has worked with Running Blind so she is very familiar with our group and what we do (she completed the Detroit Half Marathon last fall), and she is enthusiastic about supporting our cause. She will focus on building relationships with the other visually impaired members on our roster and try to help get a more active rapport with them, which will be a challenge, but she is already digging into that role. Welcome Geri!
Running Blind 2016 Annual Report (January 2017) 2016 was again very busy year for me personally and also for Running Blind as we co-hosted and co-sponsored our 2nd Adventure Camp with OUB. The trip was another big success. For me personally I lost my 92 year old mother, so that was sad, but she lived a good long and largely healthy life. You can find a recap of Running Blind’s activities in our 2016 Annual Report and find even more detailed stories and pictures of the fabulous and arduous canoe trip that we took on the adventure camp in the 2016 Adventure Camp Trip Report.
Geri and guide David complete a half marathon! (November 2016) Geri has been with Running Blind as a race walker for a couple of years. She set her sights on completing her first ever half marathon, and with the support of guide David Saperstein they did it. They finished the 2016 Detroit Marathons half marathon event in 3:30:23. Congratulations Geri and David!
Hope and guide Erika complete DxA2 Half Marathon (June 2016) Congratulations to Hope Springstead who completed her first half marathon on a rain soaked day by completing the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run on June 4th, 2016. She and Erika finished in a time of 2:27:59 and Running Blind founder and DxA2 finish line announcer Hal Wolfe was there to announce her finish to the crowd gather at the finish line. The passing storms couldnt dampen Hopes spirits nor her will to finish.
2016 Running Blind Adventure Camp a big success! (July 2016) Running Blind and Adventures Unlimited for the Blind again combined for a very successful Adventure Camp. 10 blind youth and staff members and 9 sighted staffers and volunteers participated in the 2nd ever Running Blind / OUB Adventure Camp. The camp consisted of a 4 day canoe trip down the Big Manistee River followed by 2 days of fun at Lake Charlevoix. The camping was not without difficulties (as camping goes!), but the campers persevered and prevailed, and everyone had a challenging but good time. See the Camp Report for a full report of the event (and lots of pictures!)
2016 Adventure Camp Trip Report from camper Gabby (July 2016) Gabby is a 14 year old girl that participated in the trip. Hear about the adventure through her eyes by reading her short diary account of the adventure camp. (in center of picture below)
Running Blind 2015 Annual Report (January 2016) 2015 was a less active year than 2014, but I was very busy as I was focused on a house addition that I was totally engaged in as contractor and laborer and jack of all trades. Running Blind still made some progress in 2015. See the 2015 Annual Report for a recap of the year.
Announcing Running Blind's 2016 Adventure Camp! (June 2016) Running Blind is again partnering with Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind (OUB) and is sponsoring and co-hosting a 7 day Up North adventure camp scheduled for July of 2016. The camp will again take place in northern Michigan beginning with 5 days of canoeing on the Big Manistee River and finishing up with two days of beach fun on Lake Charlevoix.
OUB operates a summer camp for visually impaired kids in the Grand Rapids area (Camp Optimist). The partnership works well as they supply the camping gear, vehicles, and staff, and have longer term connections in the VI community to promote the camp for visually impaired youth. Running Blind provides the organisational prowess (founder Hal Wolfe was a former professional canoe guide, is an up-north native and has been a professional event planner). Running Blind also provides fundraising capability to match OUB's support. The collaboration with OUB has worked well.
The canoe trip is the main activity this year, and the camp will also include camping, swimming, and a little boating. If this works out anywhere near as well as our 2014 trip, it will be a fantastic experience allowing the kids to challenge themselves to develop confidence, teamwork skills and camaraderie and have a well deserved dose of good old fashioned summer fun in the process, the kind that sighted kids can enjoy every day that can be struggle for visually impaired kids to share - but they sure will during this event!
Please consider making a donation to help support this fantastic event. (donation info here)
Running Blind annual report (January 2015) I've issued the first Running Blind Annual Report. It's available at this link. (2014 Annual Report) In a nutshell - it was a great year for running blind and a very busy one for me - too busy actually. I need to step back my own involvement somewhat, and hopefully with the support Ozzie and now Hope, I will be able to do that. Finding resources to pay salaries for the two will be a challenge, but I expect it will work out in the long run. (FYI - all of my work is on a volunteer basis and will likely remain so for some time.) Please take a look at the report if you have a few minutes. - Hal
Guide volunteers needed: Interested to volunteer as a guide? (It can be very gratifying.) If so, please visit the guide runner info page (under "Training Partners" menu) and review the info there. If after reading through that you feel you are interested, you can sign up to serve as a potential guide volunteer with the online (Guide Registration form) or you can e-mail Hal Wolfe (at runlikehal@yahoo.com) if you have questions.
Do you have a used treadmill that is collecting dust? If you would consider donating a used but working treadmill to Running Blind we could find a good home for it and give you credit for a generous donation for your income tax. If you might be interested in considering such a donation, please contact Hal Wolfe via e-mail at runlikehal@yahoo.com.