As some of you already know through very kind leaks by friends and some emails I started sending out this week, I am humbled and honored to have been selected to run the 2014 Boston Marathon on behalf of Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary. As some of you know and many dont, my amazing son, Zach, was diagnosed at age 1 with a rare, non-hereditary eye disorder called Coats’ disease. By the time it was diagnosed, it was too late to save any vision in the eye. However, through amazing work down at Bascom Palmer, they were able to save the eye itself. He had procedures under general anesthesia every few months for years as part of that process. He still has to go at least twice a year for examinations. Thankfully, his condition is stable. In our constant trips down to the facility, I encountered many children and families going through similar and often much worse ordeals. So many kids had conditions like retinoblastomas and it broke my heart to see them lose their eyes and too many lose their lives. Still, I know they were receiving treatment from a top facility and based upon current technology, all that could be done was being done for them. I now have a remarkable opportunity to help kids like Zach and so many others. I have been selected to run the 2014 Boston Marathon as part of Team Eye and Ear, a group of dedicated runners who are raising money to advance the truly inspiring work of Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Mass. Eye and Ear is one of the top hospitals in the country. Now united with Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass. Eye and Ear is the world’s largest vision and hearing research center, developing new treatments and cures through discovery and innovation. Mass. Eye and Ear is a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and trains future medical leaders in ophthalmology and otolaryngology, through residency as well as clinical and research fellowships. Internationally acclaimed since its founding in 1824, Mass. Eye and Ear employs full-time, board-certified physicians who offer high-quality and affordable specialty care that ranges from the routine to the very complex. U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals Survey” has consistently ranked the Mass. Eye and Ear Departments of Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology as top five in the nation. As a member of Team Eye & Ear, I have started with a lofty goal of raising at least $9,000 to advance the research and care of Mass. Eye and Ear. I would greatly appreciate any donation at all you could make to assist me in reaching this goal and hopefully going far beyond it. Donations are fully tax deductible and can easily and quickly be made online at the website I just set up at crowdrise/teameyeandear/fundraiser/jeffblostein I look forward to keeping you informed of my progress – both in the training and in the fundraising. Please feel free to email and/or post the link as well - it all helps so much. Thank you for your support! Jeff
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 23:03:20 +0000
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