First Blind Athlete To Run Across the Grand Canyon and Back in One Day

In less than a week, my friend Dan Berlin is going to attempt to become the first vision-impaired athlete to run across the Grand Canyon and back in a single day.   I’m going to guide Dan on the 46-mile route with help from my friends Brad Graff and Alison Qualter Berna.  Dan went blind in his 30s and THEN decided to become a marathoner.  And now he’s taking on a physical challenge that intimidates even the strongest of runners.   

Here's a pic while guiding Dan in the NYC Marathon:

And here's a pic from the Toughman 1/2 Ironman (Swim 1.2 miles, Bike 56 miles, Run 13.1 miles) race with Dan and Alison:

And here's a pic of Brad Graff, who is an accomplished endurance runner and adventure hiker:

Known as “rim to rim to rim,” this challenge is a bucket list item for ultra runners looking for an extreme endurance test.  There will be no race officials or aid stations.  Just the four of us carrying everything we need and supporting one another as we attempt to traverse over 20,000 feet of elevation change.  

We will start running at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7^th, at the south rim of the Grand Canyon, run down to the Colorado River, across the base of the canyon, up the north rim, then turn around and re-trace our steps. 

 

October is Blindness Awareness Month, and we’re using this run to raise money for two organizations:

 - The Blind Institute of Technology, a nonprofit whose mission is to prepare the visually impaired and the employers who hire them for success in the workplace. 

 - The Foundation Fighting Blindness, whose mission is to drive the research that will prevent, treat and find cures for people affected by the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.

If you would like to support us, please make a donation on our fund raising page:

http://www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/the-blind-team-challenge-running-the-grand-canyon/234468

Thanks!