2010 Team Eye and Ear Members
The 51 members that make up Team Eye and Ear participating in the 2010 Boston Marathon are a dedicated and diverse group of individuals. Team Eye and Ear members span a wide range of athletic abilities and walks of life. They are generous and dedicated individuals who are athletes, fundraisers and ambassadors for Mass. Eye and Ear. Although all team members have their own reason for running with Mass. Eye and Ear, they are all dedicated to helping fund hope for those suffering with
loss of vision, hearing, voice, balance or head and neck cancer. Please find their stories below.
Team Sean – Donnalee Guerin, Jim McLoughney, and Paula Murphy (
Kenneth Baker (Natick, MA): Ken is running in his first-ever marathon with Team Eye and Ear to raise funds to help find a cure for Meniere’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear that affects hearing and balance. Ken’s wife has Meniere’s disease which has resulted in about 70% hearing loss in one ear. To support Ken, please go to: www.FirstGiving.com/KCBaker.
Annie Chen (
Nadia Tejeda
Nadia Colon is currently the Senior Accountant for the Personal Market Reinsurance Department at Liberty Mutual Group. She is a graduate of
Nadia is a native of the
To support Nadia, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/NadiaTejedaColon.
Tonia Conover (
Julie-Anne Cote (
Team Will Run 4 Chocolate - Lindsey Courchesney, Julie Luistro, Robyn Rodden (
Julie Crosby (
Ken Dowling (
JoEllen Falk (
Jeff Fine (
“Training for
Lisa and Russ Fleming (Winchester, MA): Lisa has run the Boston Marathon with Team Eye and Ear for the past two years. Her husband, Russ, has joined Lisa for the 2010 Boston Marathon. Russ has recently worked hard to lose weight with Weight Watchers and feels healthy enough to attempt to run a full Boston Marathon. This will be Russ’ first marathon and Lisa’s lucky 13th Boston Marathon! Lisa and Russ have friends who have been treated at Mass. Eye and Ear and are seeing today because of their outstanding services. Lisa works with people who have Macular Degeneration and are benefitting from the research and treatment provided by Mass Eye and Ear. To support Lisa and Russ, please visit: www.FirstGiving.com/RussFleming.
Karyne Flores (Jamaica Plain, MA): Karyne began working at Mass. Eye and Ear as a training specialist this past fall. Since then, Karyne has been intrigued by the research and patient care at Mass. Eye and Ear. Karyne is excited to be participating in her first marathon with Team Eye and Ear. She has made it her goal to complete the Boston Marathon since moving to the city over ten years ago. To support Karyne, please visit: www.FirstGiving.com/KaryneFlores.
Yvonne Garcia (Melrose, MA): This will be Yvonne’s first marathon. She is grateful to Mass. Eye and Ear as she has many friends that have been treated at the hospital and have receive great patient care. To support Yvonne, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/YvonneGarcia.
Tara Giardina (Reading, MA): At 19 years of age, Tara sat in an exam room at Mass. Eye and Ear with a team of ocular physicans, after waking up one morning with severe pain in both eyes and unable to see. Tara was diagnosed with an Ocular disease that causes blindness related to Uveitis, which is responsible for 10% of all cases of blindness. Over the course of the past eighteen years the ocular physicians at Mass. Eye and Ear have become like extended family to Tara. Some months, she needed to be seen two or three times a week to closely monitor her eye pressure, vision, and medications. Tara clearly recalls the first time she had reached a full month without a flair up of the Uveitis (an amazing accomplishment), and also the time she had a heart-to-heart conversation with her compassionate Mass. Eye and Ear physician about the risks of losing her sight when she told him she wanted to get off her medications so that she could have a baby.
Charlie Gillis (Whitman, MA): “In April 2006, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Tonsil Cancer. The doctor that I went to at the time wanted to do a very invasive surgery that would leave me disfigured. I was scared to death of the thought of the surgery, never mind just learning I had cancer. I went to Mass. Eye and Ear for a second opinion. Meeting Dr. Derrick Lin and learning about his approach was the best thing I ever did. Dr. Lin knew this type of cancer could be successfully treated with minor surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. I was so confident in him that I decided to follow his advice. Today, thanks to Dr. Lin and the efforts, skill, and knowledge of all the people who cared for me, I am fine and back to my old self.
Ted Johnson (Brookline, MA): “When our oldest daughter, Olivia, was just 8 weeks old she developed a severe infection in both ears, her sinuses and her mastoid bone, leading to emergency surgery and a week long stay at the hospital. We were fortunate enough to have her procedures performed, and her follow-up care overseen, by Dr. Leila Mankarious and the most amazing group of Mass. Eye and Ear professionals a parent could ever entrust their child to.
Kate Johnson (Reading, MA): Kate has been a patient at Mass. Eye and Ear for the past eight years, under the care of both Dr. Lucy Young and Dr. John Loewenstein. To save her vision from macular degeneration, a blinding disease, Kate received two rounds of photodynamic therapy at Mass. Eye and Ear (the last in 2006). Kate understands the importance of retina research, as only a few years prior, there were no treatments for her blinding disease; she would most likely have lost her vision. Because of the care Kate received from the physicians at Mass. Eye and Ear, she is able to see her two young children grow up. This has inspired her to say ‘thank you’ to Mass. Eye and Ear by running with Team Eye and Ear. This will be Kate’s second year on the team. To support Kate, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/KateJohnson
George Lambert (Milton, MA): This will be George’s second Boston Marathon with Team Eye and Ear, and his eighth overall. Before joining Team Eye and Ear in 2009, George ran the Boston Marathon for six years as a bandit runner. Last year, George decided to join Team Eye and Ear at the persuasion of his good friend, Carlie, who worked in the Mass. Eye and Ear Development Office. George raised over $5,800 for Mass. Eye and Ear in 2009. This year, George hopes to top this and raise more than $6,000. To support George, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/GeorgeLambert.
Ingrid Lapsa (Andover, MA): “My grandfather was an ENT Physician and Surgeon, and was very involved with medical outreach to post-soviet Europe during his career and after retirement. I have been working in ophthalmic product development for 4.5 years and I have friends/family members who have been afflicted with Thyroid cancer, AMD, and sensorineral hearing loss.” Ingrid currently works for Ora, Inc., the world’s leading independent ophthalmic product development firm. She is excited to be joining Team Eye and Ear for her second marathon. To support Ingrid, please contact Kristina Sym at kristina_sym@meei.harvard.edu.
Daniel Lieman (Waban, MA): “When I was a graduate student, [Mass. Eye and Ear] treated me (for free! on a weekend!) when I picked up a corneal infection overseas. One of our sons has had four minor (and successful) eye surgeries by Mass. Eye and Ear trained physicians. I feel good as a parent that our kids have access to the best medical resources in the world - and Mass Eye and Ear is part of that. I'd like to help push research forward and also help extend its reach to the community through their public clinics.
I'm trying to raise a lot of money in part for that point in the marathon when it will be miserable and the simple "hey, each second I endure of this raises another fifty cents" will help me get through.
This will be Daniel’s first marathon. To support Daniel, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/Lieman.
John Marenghi (Marblehead, MA): “This year will mark my 10th anniversary as a member of the Board of Trustees at Mass. Eye and Ear. I was first introduced to the hospital by my eye doctor, the late Dr. Joel Kraut, who founded the Vision Rehabilitation Center at Mass. Eye and Ear.
* Through sailing, I have met sailors who are blind!
* As a triathlete, I have watched the Hoyts as they leave the beach in the first swim wave!
* While contemplating my attempt at the Boston Marathon, I learned about Kurt Fiene and Adrian Broca, blind marathoners with PRs around 2:50!
Will McNamara (Aspen, CO): Will, 29, has once again joined Team Eye and Ear. Almost four years ago, Will had a mountain biking accident near Vail, Colorado and broke his back. During surgery, Will had a stroke to the optic nerve in both eyes, leaving him legally blind and facing a new way of life.
Due to the special rehabilitation Will received while in Craig Hospital, a rehabilitation hospital in Colorado and support from friends and family, he walked out of the facility with only the aid of a cane. He says, “I have two rods and many screws in my back, but my back has been fine, it’s been my eyes that hold me back.”
“My family has been looking and we are all hoping for some kind of cure for my eyes.” Last year, Will found Mass. Eye and Ear and Dr. Dean Cestari’s marathon team of nine members who were raising funds for neuro-ophthalmology research and knew it was a perfect match.
Will ran the 2009 Boston Marathon with Mass. Eye and Ear in memory of his father who he lost to cancer. “As a family, we have raised lots of funds for cancer. Now we think my dad would want us to do some fundraising for eye research and we feel we have found the right place . . . we are all looking for some type of cure for my eyes.”
Will is not new to giving back. He uses his challenges to help others. In addition to his fundraising activities, Will volunteers for Challenge Aspen, a non-profit organization that offers life changing experiences to individuals and groups with disabilities.
Will attributes what he’s been able to overcome and accomplish due to the support from his friends and family including his mom, who lives in Scituate, MA and his younger sister, Becca, who lives in D.C.
On April 19, Will will join the 49 other members of Team Eye and Ear for the 114th running of the Boston Marathon to raise funds for neuro-ophthalmology research, which he hopes will one day benefit him. To support Will, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/WillMcNamara
Ronak Mehta (Brookline, MA): “Running and philanthropy are my two passions in life and I'm glad that I've been able to combine the two as I prepare for the 114th Boston Marathon. Life has taken me from the Maximum City - Mumbai, India, where I grew up, to the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles in 2003, where I obtained my graduate degree, to the running haven i.e Boston in 2005, where the security of a stable job allowed me to convert running from a pastime to a genuine hobby. Finally, after 5 years of accumulating miles under my belt, I have been able to commit my body and mind to come together to prepare for this big race that I've always dreamt of running and I am glad that I am running it as part of Team Eye and Ear. I chose Mass. Eye and Ear because, after having suffered from persistent and at times severe eye infections for years as a child, I wanted to support this wonderful institution which prides itself in caring for people with vision problems far worse than I experienced in my early life.
Over the next couple of months, I hope to get to know the team and the people behind this long standing and reputable organization and look forward to raising funds for them and finishing strong at the race.”
As a Captain in the U.S. Army, Ricky is not new to taking on challenges. In his own words, “This will be my 9th Boston Marathon, 21st overall, and I have never ran for charity. The last two years I have seen many with disabilities running in the Boston Marathon and that has inspired me to do this run for a cause.” Ricky is excited to be part of Team Eye and Ear for the 2010 Boston Marathon. To support Ricky, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/RickyMitchell.
Sandra Rocio Montezuma (Boston, MA): In her own words, “I’m not a professional runner, I’m a dreamer with all the energy to make things come true. I am from Colombia, South America, from a state called Santander and we – the santandereanos – always say “Never a step back, always a step forward” and this is the attitude I have kept ever since I got to this country in 2001 and the attitude I will keep for the 114th Boston Marathon on April 19 … The funds I will raise will help research in ophthalmology. There are two labs I have worked with here at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, the angiogenesis lab and the Boston retinal prosthesis lab. Both labs have made important contributions in science and have the same goal: the restoration of vision in patients with retinal degenerative diseases like age related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in the industrialized world.” Sandra is a Retina Fellow at Mass. Eye and Ear. To support Sandra, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/SandraRocioMontezuma.
Elo Ofodile (Randolph, MA): “This will be my first marathon, and I chose to run it with Mass. Eye and Ear because their mission is critical to individuals afflicted with conditions affecting their eyesight and hearing. In addition to raising money for a good cause, I am making this a personal challenge, one that will demonstrate to my children our capacity as humans for extraordinary achievement. I am looking forward to meeting the team and running this race for a good cause.” To support Elo, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/EloOfodile.
Setha Margaret Olson (Lincoln, MA): “I've been saying I was going to do this for years - and I finally am… I have had ‘run the Boston Marathon’ on my list of things to do since I was cheering on the runners as a student at Wellesley… I've been to Mass Eye and ear to have my own (mild) hearing problems evaluated...there is not cure, or aid, that works. At my visit, I noticed the waiting room was full of children who couldn't hear much of anything and their worried parents.” Margaret is raising funds and hope for others. To support Margaret, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/MargaretOlson.
Stephanie Prince (Malden, MA): “I've lived in the Boston area my entire life and can remember watching the marathon on tv or coming in to see it every year. I've always been so impressed by the runners, as well as inspired when I learned that so many were running for different causes and charities. I made it a personal goal of mine to complete a marathon by the age of 30, and all I needed was a cause I felt strongly about to make this 26 mile trek for, and I found that when I joined Team Eye and Ear. Running for a cause that effects so many people helps to not only motivate me but also makes me proud to be running with team members in it for the same reason that are willing to push their bodies to the limit for the sake of so many others. I'm so excited to be a member of Team Eye and Ear and cannot wait to cross the finish line!” To support Stephanie (and her training and fundraising partner Kelly McDonald), please visit www.FirstGiving.com/KellyMandStephanieP.
Marcel Quiroga (Marblehead, MA): Marcel has decided to run this year’s Boston Marathon as a member of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting’s "Women Running For Women" program, which is designed to empower Latina professionals while giving back to some of Boston's most important non-profits. Marcel feels especially passionate about running with Team Eye and Ear. In her own words, “In the past decade, my father was diagnosed with macular degeneration disease, the most common cause of severe vision loss in older Americans. The idea of vision loss for anyone is terrifying. For a retired, literature professor, whose life revolves around reading books and on the computer, it is unthinkable. After two operations at Mass. Eye and Ear, the disease was detained. Even though, he has lost most of the vision in one eye, and of course his life has been affected by this.” Marcel is raising funds for macular degeneration research. To support Marcel, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/MarcelQuiroga-TeamEyeAndEar.
Bill Ramon (Medford, MA): “I started running a little in 2006 with the express purpose of completing the Boston Marathon as a tribute to my late Grandpa Rufus Grason and to raise funds for one of his favorite causes, the Eaton-Peabody Lab [at Mass. Eye and Ear]. This will be my fourth Boston with the same goal. Why do I keep at it?
§ - Grandpa Rufus - Those of you who knew him professionally knew the smart, soft spoken, warm, supportive, self made man. He was that, and so much more to his family. To say I miss him would be an understatement. I am proud to carry on his legacy of supporting the Eaton-Peabody Laboratory.
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory - the Eaton-Peabody Laboratory is one of the world's largest basic research facilities dedicated to the study of hearing and deafness. All of the funds I raise will support them in these research efforts.
This will be Bill’s fourth year running the Boston Marathon with Team Eye and Ear. To support Bill, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/BillRamon.
Thomas Rassweiler (New York, NY): “I have been a runner most of my life. It is my favorite form of transportation. Team Eye and Ear is a wonderful opportunity to challenge myself and help a good cause at the same time. One of my close friends’ sister, Brooke Cobb, had surgery at Mass. Eye and Ear which resulted in the successful removal of her cancer.” This will be Thomas’ first marathon. To support Thomas, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/TomRassweiler.
Joseph Rizzo, MD (Boston, MA): Dr. Rizzo, a neuro-ophthalmologist at Mass. Eye and Ear decided to run the 2010 Boston Marathon, his first marathon, to raise money to support his innovative research, which is dedicated to restoring vision to the blind. The Boston Retinal Implant Project is a collaboration among the Harvard Medical School / Mass. Eye and Ear, MIT and the Veteran’s Administration. The team has developed a computer-chip device (i.e. a “retinal prosthesis”) to implant around the eye to restore vision to patients with either retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration. Dr. Rizzo hopes to raise more than $25,000 for this research. To support Dr. Rizzo, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/JosephRizzo.
Miriam Finn Sherman (Middleboro, MA): “For the past two years I have participated in some runs, bike events and triathlon sprints. They have been fun, exciting, challenging and pushed me to do something that I thought I never could do. This marathon run will be different though –it will be both a chance to do something special AND raise money for Mass. Eye and Ear, a place that inspires me every day.
I was inspired to join the team by the physicians, scientists, nurses and the entire staff at Mass. Eye and Ear who work every day to help patients and are committed to saving sight, hearing, speech and balance. The innovative research that happens here at Mass. Eye and Ear benefits people throughout the world.
I am fortunate to work at such a wonderful hospital at a job that I truly enjoy, so I thought it was time to give a little something back. (It’s also a nice way to make my 2010 extraordinary!)
I know that training won’t be easy –but my Dad, John, was an “L” Street brownie and swam in Boston Harbor on even the coldest of winter days. I will think of him on those long cold runs and I know that he’ll be smiling down on me and helping me along the way.
Tammy Stapleton (Reading, MA): “Until very recently I never could understand why anyone would run even one mile, never mind twenty-six in a row… I thought that they had to be superhuman or at the very least, heavily medicated. Well, I am neither. I am running Boston not only as a personal challenge but also to raise money for Mass. Eye and Ear in memory of two special people: My nana, Helen McGrath, who suffered from macular degeneration as well as my grandfather, Alton McGrath, who experienced significant hearing loss throughout his life.
Helen always put family first even when she was challenged by this debilitating eye disease. The fact that family history is a risk factor with macular degeneration gives me more reason to want advancements made in this area.
My grandfather, despite significant hearing loss, was always able to maintain his wonderful sense of humor and rarely let the fact that he was hard of hearing get him down. It was often frustrating for him when, even with a hearing aid, he could not participate in conversations. Now, years later, I have several family members who require hearing aids. I wish for the day that these devices can be perfected through advanced technology.
If there had been a cure or improved technology for my Nana and Grandfather's conditions during their lifetimes I truly believe that their quality of life would have been tremendously improved in their later years. My hope is that my family and others may be able to enjoy healthy eyesight and hearing throughout their lifetimes.”
To support Tammy, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/TammyStapleton.
Jennifer Street (Newton, MA): “This will be my 19th year playing a role, however small, in the Boston Marathon. The first 18 years were spent assisting in the television production for WBZ-TV's coverage of the legendary event. Through the years, I became intimately involved with every detail of the race - never once thinking that I might someday actually attempt to run it.
But two and half years ago, I made a career change - and came to work at a remarkable place - Mass. Eye and Ear. In my brief time here, I have seen miracles both large and small. The doctors and the scientists - the nurses and the staff… all devote their lives to caring for patients and to finding cures and treatments for diseases that rob people of their vision, their hearing, their voice, their sense of smell or taste, or perhaps, their balance.
I am convinced that this is where scientists will find a cure for glaucoma - a painful and blinding disease that affects my family, and specifically, my Dad. Both of my young sons have been patients here and this past Christmas, I underwent surgery to remove a damaging cyst in my vocal fold. The surgery restored my voice to normal, after months and months of severe hoarseness.
Many people who come to Mass. Eye and Ear face life-threatening conditions - such as cancer in the head or neck. But even more of our patients face conditions like mine, which threaten their quality of life, and that can also be devastating. So they come here, and they find miracles.
Miracles don't come without years and years of work... and massive investment on the part of researchers and the hospital. Team Eye and Ear members combine to raise the most money for Mass. Eye and Ear each year.
So now, I find myself stretching - to be part of the miracles. Until this year, 10k was as far as I had ever raced or even run. Believe it or not, I don't love to run. But I do love how it makes me feel.. and I hope in some small way, that by doing this, I'll help others feel a little bit better too.”
To support Jennifer, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/JenniferStreet.
Katie Sullivan (Worcester, MA): As a Nurse at UMass Medical Center, Katie has a passion and desire to help those with complex medical problems. In her own words, “I understand how important research is to support the prevention, treatment, and cures for disease processes. Being a part of Team Eye and Ear gives me opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others while also allowing me to use my athletic background to complete the Boston Marathon.” Katie is not new to training – she was a Division I soccer player at UNH for four years during her undergraduate career. To support Katie, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/KatieSullivanBoston2010.
Andy Sullman (The Woodlands, TX): Andy, who is affected by cerebral palsy, has struggled with tasks all his life that most people perform everyday, such as cutting food or tying his shoes. Andy’s mom recognized a couple years ago that he could run while they were scampering in an airport to catch a flight. So he began beginning running training 18 months ago. At that time, his head drooped to the left and he was loosing the use of his left side. The first year of training saw him become very mobile.
He planned for 5:30 at the Houston Marathon in January of 2009, his first timed race. Many people said Andy could never complete a marathon. But he proved them wrong; Andy kept running right through the 'wall' and finished in 4:55. Before 2009 was over, he completed three more races, including another marathon. Pictures of him on his recent 30k where he ran the 2:33 showed a perfect stride. Hard to imagine him being in a wheelchair.
A student at Lone Star College—Montgomery, Andy is quite intelligent, a computer geek. But try as he may, his words just don't come out. Andy communicates with help of a computer program.
John Torrey (San Mateo, CA): This will be John’s third year as a member of Team Eye and Ear and he is excited to be back for another year. Like Thomas Rassweiler, John is also running because his friend, Brooke Cobb, is cancer-free today because of Mass. Eye and Ear. To support John, please contact Kristina Sym.
Mark Tremblay (Marblehead, MA): In his own words, “I will be running in memory of my brother John who passed away at the too early age of 43. We all miss him and wish he was still with us. John had been treated at Mass. Eye and Ear [and was going to undergo a cornea transplant].” Also, Mark’s father has a severe hearing disability, which affects his life and the people around him. Because of this, Mark will be running with Team Eye and Ear to raise funds to hearing research. As the owner of “Get in Shape for Women” in Marblehead, Mark is not new to fitness and training and has participated in several road races before. This will be Mark’s first marathon. To support Mark, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/MarkTremblay-TeamEyeAndEar.
Michael Watson (Cambridge, MA): As a Clinical Research Associate at Ora, Inc., the world’s leading independent ophthalmic product development firm, Michael understands the need for research. This will be Michael’s first marathon. To support Michael, please contact Kristina Sym.
Katie Witman (Andover, MA): This will be Katie’s third marathon and she is excited to be running it with Team Eye and Ear! Katie will be starting grad school for her MBA at Dartmouth in September. To support Katie, please visit www.FirstGiving.com/KatherineWitman.
