Hi!!

I am so excited to be announcing that I am going to be running the 2012 Boston Marathon as part of the Perkins School for the Blind Marathon Team!!  The first question that probably comes to mind is "WHY??".  The answer to that is very simple for me, my daughter, Paige. 

Paige was born in 2003 and shortly after her arrival we were told some devastating news, our little girl was blind.  After multiple trips to multiple doctors in multiple states, we were told that she was totally blind as a result of a rare genetic disorder for which there is currently no cure. 

At that point we had two options, lose ourselves in our despair or seek out resources to help us help  our little girl lead the best life possible.  As hard as it was, we opted for option 2.  One of the first resources we came across was Perkins School for the Blind.  All of a sudden we weren't all alone in this new, unknown, and very scary world we had been thrust into.  There were professionals that helped to guide the way and other parents that understood what we were going through. We learned that Paige would be okay, she would take a different path than we had imagined, but she would be okay.

Over the past eight years, Perkins has become an invaluable source of knowledge, support and comfort for both me and Paige.  It is one of the only places that Paige can go and just be Paige, not Paige, the blind girl.  She doesn't have to explain to anyone there what her cane is or what braille is....she is just one of the kids, she doesn't get left behind...she doesn't get left out....she is just a carefree little girl.....to me that is priceless. (Shhhh, don't tell Paige, but she also actually learns a tremendous amount during her visits to Perkins!!)

It is way outside my comfort zone to ask for help, but I figure Paige meets new challenges and steps outside her comfort zone on a daily basis, the least I can do is step up to this fundraising challenge and step outside my comfort zone, so here it is.....

I am asking...

"Please help me to raise money for this incredible institution that gives so much to the children that they serve, please help Perkins continue to provide amazing experiences for Paige. Please help me to help Paige."

I am doing this for Paige and I will do whatever it takes to succeed in running this marathon, but I need your help to succeed in the fundraising portion.... so go ahead and click on that orange donate button.....(please, please, please!!!)

or if you prefer to make gifts offline - via checks - please make checks payable to Perkins School for the Blind, reference MY name in the memo section, and then mail to:

• Perkins School for the Blind
• Attn: Boston Marathon
• 175 North Beacon St
• Watertown, MA 02472

And if you feel comfortable doing so,  please feel free to share this page with your friends and families.

I GREATLY appreciate any and all of your help.