Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind Announces 5th Annual Light the Way 5k Fun Walk/Run on Saturday, September 12th
Annual event raises awareness of the capabilities of people who are blind and visually impaired
August 25, 2015, Washington, DC – Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB) will host its 5th annual Light the Way 5k Fun Walk/Run on Saturday, September 12th, 2015, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The annual event benefits the programs and services CLB provides to people of all ages who are blind, low vision, and DeafBlind in the Washington, D.C., region. All are invited to participate in the event, which also includes the Kids’ Fun Run for youngsters ages 3-8.
CLB’s Light the Way 5k Fun Walk/Run encourages people of all ages, particularly people who are blind or visually impaired, to maintain active and productive lifestyles. Light the Way 5k further raises the awareness of the capabilities of people who are blind and visually impaired as well as CLB’s impact on the community.
Guillermo Garcia, UBS, and Tyler Roberts, staffer for U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), co-chairs on an enthusiastic volunteer committee of local business leaders, including Andrew Howard of Howard Insurance.
The roster of distinguished event sponsors includes Safeway, National Industries for the Blind, the Coca-Cola Company, Washingtonian, ABC 7/News Channel 8, and more.
Light the Way 5k debuted in 2011 with more than 600 runners, walkers and guides. Since then, participation has doubled. The event is designed to expand awareness about the comprehensive, integrated range of programs and services including low vision care and rehabilitation, job development training, and employment offered through CLB to people of all ages who are visually impaired or blind, enabling them to maintain independent lives.
“For 115 years, CLB has worked to reach individuals throughout the community who need our services,” said Anthony J. Cancelosi, K.M., president and CEO of CLB. “With the growing number of aging baby boomers, demand has grown a great deal over the years and we must be prepared to accommodate the needs of the community.”
“Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind does tremendous work on behalf of and with the region’s blind and visually impaired residents,” said Mark D. Lerner, vice chairman and one of the principal owners of the Washington Nationals. “Our family and the Nationals are proud and honored to help support these efforts by hosting the Light the Way 5k at Nationals Park.”
Light the Way 5k Fun Walk/Run is a unique and fun non-competitive walk, run, and roll race that begins at Nationals Park and ends on the ballpark warning track. Opportunities are available to act as a guide to a blind or visually impaired participant. For more information about the event and to register, visit www.LightTheWay5k.org.
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About Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB)
CLB serves people of all ages who are blind, low vision, or DeafBlind living in the Washington, D.C., region, by providing vision-health screenings, independent living skills training, support groups, retraining, and job counseling and placement. Among the veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, 17% of them have visual impairments. CLB partners with government and private agencies to retrain and employ these wounded warriors. Independence is our vision. For more information, please visit our website at www.www.clb.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jocelyn Hunter
Director of Communications
202-454-6422
jhunter@clb.org