2013 Team Eye and Ear Members

We are excited to introduce the 45 members of Team Eye and Ear, Mass. Eye and Ear's marathon team that will be participating in the 2013 Boston Marathon on April 15 Team Eye and Ear members span a wide range of athletic abilities (novice to experience marathoners) and walks of life. They are generous and dedicated individuals who are athletes, fundraisers and ambassadors for Mass Eye and Ear. Their hard word, dedication and pure passion brings new hope and a healthier future to people everywhere who suffer from debilitating conditions affecting sight, hearing, voice, balance, taste and smell, as well as cancers of the eye, head and neck.

Caiti Bourbeau (Braintree, MA)

Caiti is currently a Mass. Eye and Ear patient suffering from Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disorder that affects balance and hearing and for which there is no cure. She joins Team Eye and Ear for her first marathon.  Caiti says, “I have overcome many challenges and bumps in the road, including beating cancer, and I am excited to participate and beat this next challenge!” Caiti is not new to giving back as she has hosted many charity events and worked in a partnership for Habitat for Humanity as well as Relay for Life.
To support Caiti, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/CaitiBourbeau
 

Matt Brigger, MD (San Diego, CA)

It’s a return trip home for Lieutenant Commander Matthew Brigger, a Pediatric Otolaryngologist in the U.S. Navy.  Matt, who was a pediatric otolaryngology fellow at Mass. Eye and Ear in 2007-2009, is coming home in April to run the Boston Marathon for Team Eye and Ear! “The opportunity to raise funds with some of my close friends for a great cause at a great institution is unbelievable,” he explains.  “While I was at Mass. Eye and Ear I witnessed the ‘anything is possible’ concept every day.” Matt has taken that idea of ‘anything is possible’ and applied it to his whole life.  This is Matt’s second time running with Team Eye and Ear.
To support Matt, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/MatthewBrigger

Ashley Campbell (Boston, MA)

* Mass. Eye and Ear employee
Although she has previously completed three half ironmans and one half marathon, this April Ashley will participate in her first Boston Marathon as a member of Team Eye and Ear. As a Junior Resident in Opthalmology, Ashley has been inspired by the mission of Mass. Eye and Ear. Having just recently relocated to Boston, Ashley looks forward to supporting the institution that has granted her valuable training while also familiarizing herself with the Boston running community.
To support Ashley, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312.

Kyle Chambers, MD (Jamaica Plain, MA)

* Mass. Eye and Ear employee
As a current Otolaryngology Resident at Mass. Eye and Ear, Kyle joins Team Eye and Ear for his first marathon, “I would like to run for Team Eye and Ear because I fully support the good work being done by the hospital. I look forward to being part of a team, to supporting one another while training for this challenge, and to helping raise funds to support the mission of Mass. Eye and Ear”. Kyle has previously helped to raise over $300,000 for a variety of programs including the American Heart Association and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. He is now focusing his efforts on raising funds for pediatric airway research and patient care at Mass. Eye and Ear.
To support Kyle, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/KyleChambers.

Ayan Chatterjee (Cambridge, MA)

* Mass. Eye and Ear employee
Back for his second year on Team Eye and Ear, Ayan runs in memory of his grandfather. Over the course of several decades, Ayan’s grandfather went blind due to glaucoma, a disease that is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss worldwide.  His grandfather inspired Ayan to pursue a career in Ophthalmology. As a current medical student at University of Pennsylvania, Ayan is participating in a two-year glaucoma research fellowship supported by HHMI at Mass. Eye and Ear under the guidance of Dr. Douglas Rhee. Ayan is looking forward to running his fourth marathon with Team Eye and Ear to fund glaucoma research.
To support Ayan, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/AyanChatterjee
 

Ron Chrabascz (Marlborough, MA)

After completing several half marthons Ron is now challenging himself to his first marathon this April.  Having witnessed the detrimental effects of hearing disabilites of a friend and her daughter, Ron has joined Team Eye and Ear to support the research efforts of Mass. Eye and Ear.
To support Ron, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/RonCrabascz
 

Shane Cote (Milton, MA)

This will be Shane’s first marathon and he is excited to join Team Eye and Ear! As a student at Northeastern University studying international business, accounting, and finance, Shane is excited to get a little time out of the classroom to train and fundraise.
To support Shane, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/ShaneCote.

Tim Decker (Verona, NJ)

The 2013 Boston Marathon will mark Timothy’s 167th marathon and his third year with Team Eye and Ear, “I’ve raced over 10,000 miles cumulatively in almost 900 events over the course of my running career- everything from track to ultras”. For Tim, an editorial production manager for a publishing group in New York City, the marathons just seemed to add up over the years.  In his own words, “I enjoy running them, it's been a great way to see some of the world and I'm sort of hard-wired to seek out and/or create crazy and impossible challenges for myself.”
To support Tim, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312.

Steven DellaCroce (Attleboro, MA)

This will be Steven’s first marathon. Previously, Steven ran a half-marathon in Iraq during his three years in the military.  Steven joins Team Eye and Ear in honor of teammate, Melanie Power, and the memory of her father In his own words, “My passions in life are my two beautiful girls, Aaliyah and Jaydin. They make my life adventurous every day and always keep me on my toes. My second passion is health and wellness. Running the Boston Marathon has never been on my [bucket list].”
To support Steven, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/StevenDellaCroce1

Sheila Devine (Boston, MA)

Sheila runs to show her gratitude for her daughter, Maeve’s physician, Dr. Christopher Hartnick.  In her own words, “It’s hard to believe that it was just one year ago this [January] that my daughter, Maeve was having neurosurgery to repair a Chiari Malformation that was diagnosed by Dr. Hartnick.  Essentially Maeve’s brain stem was pressing against her cerebellum which obstructed the proper flow of spinal fluid. This pressure caused Maeve to have an unusual cough, which ultimately affected her vocal chords.  This was a scary time for our family and throughout all of this Maeve really earned her nickname ‘Brave Maeve’. Dr. Hartnick treated Maeve (and all of us) with the utmost care and attention. You can only imagine how scary it was to initially be seen for a cough and end up needing neurosurgery.” Today, Maeve is thriving and Sheila is grateful to Dr. Hartnick and his team. This April she joins Team Eye and Ear for her third Boston Marathon to raise funds for Dr. Hartnick’s airway team.
To support Sheila, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/SheilaDevine.

Stephen Farren (Jamaica Plain, MA)

Stephen is excited to join Team Eye and Ear for his first marathon. Stephen says, “I am excited to help [Mass. Eye and Ear] continue its mission to help people and to help save lives.” Stephen is not new to giving back; he has been involved with the St. Francis House for many years.
To support Stephen, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312.

Lisa Fleming (Winchester, MA)

2013 will mark Lisa’s fourth time running with Team Eye and Ear. She has run two of those times with her husband, Russ. Lisa and Russ’ daughter, Emily, is currently seeing Mass. Eye and Ear’s Dr. Kathryn Colby for corneal lacerations. In addition, many of the Fleming’s friends have been successfully treated at Mass. Eye and Ear.
To support Lisa, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312.

Erica Greene (Germantown, MD)

Erica’s dad has struggled with hearing and eye problems for  the majority of his life. He has total hearing loss in one ear, 80% vision loss in one eye, as well as glaucoma in both eyes that previously went undetected by the Airforce. Erica has recently triumphed over a 65 pound weight loss, granting her the ability to pursue a hobby in running and complete one previous marathon as well as several other lengthy races. Inspired by her father’s struggles, Erica joins Team Eye and Ear to complete her next challenge, to “run for those that can’t” and “ for my Dad because even though he has trouble seeing and hearing, he is an amazing Dad!”.
To support Erica, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/EricaGreene. 

Christopher Hartnick, MD (Newton, MA)

*Mass. Eye and Ear employee
Dr. Christopher Hartnick, Division Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Mass. Eye and Ear, is back for his third marathon with Team Eye and Ear with more determination than ever!  Dr. Hartnick runs to raise funds for Mass. Eye and Ear’s pediatric laryngology lab, to translate scientific research into practical ways of helping children breathe and speak without a tracheotomy.  Dr. Hartnick is also raising funds to support Operation Airway, a pediatric airway surgery mission to Ecuador that will take place summer 2013. Dr. Hartnick is joined on Team Eye and Ear this year by eight others, including nurses, staff members, residents, former fellow, and his wife, Liz, to raise funds for Pediatric Airway research and patient care.
To support Dr. Hartnick, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/ChristopherHartnick

Liz Hartnick (Newton, MA)

Liz is inspired to run her first marathon this April with Team Eye and Ear by her husband, Dr. Christopher Hartnick.  Dr. Hartnick is Mass. Eye and Ear’s Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Mass. Eye and Ear.  Liz is running to raise funds for pediatric airway research and patient care.
To support Liz, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundrasier/ElizabethHartnick.

Doreen Jordan (Avon, MA)

Doreen joins Team Eye and Ear to support “an organization that I believe in and isproud to raise money for.”  She has raised funds in the past for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as well as for breast cancer through her participation in the three-day Avon Walk. Although she is very active, with interests in hiking, kickboxing, and yoga in addition to running, this April will mark Doreen’s first Boston Marathon.
To support Doreen, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/DoreenJordan.
 

Paul Kalina, MD (Edina, MN)

Dr. Kalina has completed many marathons for his fitness and personal goals.  In fact, he has qualified for this April’s Boston Marathon. “With each step I take – whether in training or in the race – may it help someone retain or restore vision,” Dr. Kalina explains. This time, Paul is determined to use his love of running to help others, “I want to bring faith, hope, and love to those individuals in the midst of seemingly dark days”.  Although Paul now lives in Minnesota, he is very familiar with Mass. Eye and Ear as he trained as a fellow in Glaucoma/Anterior Segment diseases from 1992 to 1993.  Paul looks forward to returning to Boston and Mass. Eye and Ear in April for his sixth Boston Marathon.
To support Paul, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312.

Patrick Kelleher (Boston, MA)

Patrick has been inspired to support Mass. Eye and Ear by fellow Team Eye and Ear member and Mass. Eye and Ear patient, Gerry O’Shea. Impressed by the level of care Mass. Eye and Ear offers, he is excited to be running for Team Eye and Ear. Patrick has completed one marathon and a Tough Mudder.  He is excited to join Team Eye and Ear for his next challenge. 
To support Patrick, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312.

Peggy Kelley (Woburn, MA)

* Mass. Eye and Ear employee
Peggy takes care of Mass. Eye and Ear’s littlest patients as a pediatric nurse in the operating room at Mass. Eye and Ear. She is constantly inspired by the patients and families she sees each day that struggle with conditions that affect their quality of life. Peggy will be running this April’s Boston Marathon for her fourth year with Mass. Eye and Ear to raise funds for pediatric airway research and patient care to help the patients she sees and others around the world. 
To support Peggy, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/PeggyKelley.
 

Robert Knapp (Boston, MA)

Robert joins Team Eye and Ear for his fifth Boston Marathon. As the father of a Mass. Eye and Ear patient, Robert understands the importance of patient care.  Robert is teaming up with his former college roommate, Dr. Christopher Hartnick (also on Team Eye and Ear) to raise funds for pediatric airway research and patient care.
To support Robert, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312

Bob Kocher (McLean, VA)

This April’s Boston Marathon will mark Bob’s 50th marathon (seven of them being Bostons)!  He runs with Team Eye and Ear to support fellow team member Will McNamara.  Inspired by Will’s story, Bob is raising funds for vision research which will one day help blind patients, like Will, regain sight.
To support Bob, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312.

Jorge Leon (Miami, FL)

Jorge joins Team Eye and Ear to run in memory of his first wife who passed away from head cancer, in support of his Aunt Laura who has been diagnosed with stage IV Thyroid Cancer, for his Uncle Raul who lost his vocal cords due to cancer, and for his sister whose eye sight is rapidly declining. In the past, Jorge has supported other charities such as the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Help the Poor at Church, as well as Help the Homeless. An avid runner, Jorge previously completed ten marathons, several Triathlons, as well as an Ironman yet this April he will particpate in his first Boston Marathon in support of Mass. Eye and Ear.
To support Jorge , please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/JorgeLeon.

Luis Leon (Tucson, AZ)

For the past two years, Luis has run at least a half-marathon daily, and completes a race every weekend.  This past December, Luis completed a 100-mile run, and then a full marathon just five days after.  Although he has time qualified for this April’s Boston Marathon, Luis is excited to join Team Eye and Ear to give new meaning to his running.
To support Luis, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312.

Will McNamara (Aspen, CO)

This April will mark Will’s fifth Boston Marathon with Team Eye and Ear. Seven years ago, after a mountain biking accident near Vail, Colorado, Will suffered from a broken back.  During surgery, he had a stroke to the optic nerve in both eyes, leaving him legally blind. Will runs with the hope that one day the research he is supporting will help restore his vision and help others who have had similar experiences. “Dr. Joseph Rizzo at Mass. Eye an Ear has given me inspiration to move forward in my life after losing my sight,” Will explains, “It gives me a good feeling to be part of his team!” Since 2008, Will and his family have raised more than $50,000 for Neuro-Ophthalmology research at Mass. Eye and Ear.
To support Will, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/WillMcNamara

Bruno Miquel (Waban, MA)

At the age of three, Bruno’s son Quentin was diagnosed with Juvenile Retinoschisis, a condition that can cause a progressive loss of central and peripheral vision due to degeneration of the retina. Quentin is currently treated at Massachusetts Eye and Ear as a patient of Dr. Mukai, inspiring Bruno’s participation in his first Boston Marathon. Bruno joins Team Eye and Ear to raise funds for Dr. Mukai's research to potentially find a cure for Juvenile Retinoschisis.
To support Bruno, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/BrunoMiquel.

Richard Mugge, MD (Boxford, MA)

As a Mass. Eye and Ear Community-based Otolaryngologist, Dr. Mugge is consistently inspired by the patients that he treats. He joins Mass. Eye and Ear for his first Boston Marathon.
To support Richard, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312

Scott Mustard (Boston, MA)

Scott was inspired to run the Boston Marathon as a member of Team Eye and Ear by his colleague who is a patient at Mass. Eye and Ear. Against all odds Mass. Eye and Ear was able to restore his colleague’s vision over an 18 month period of extensive eye surgeries, “he and our team didn’t think he would regain his sight”. In addition to running, Scott has a passion for photography and technology and also partakes in various fitness exercises including yoga and swimming. He joins Team Eye and Ear for his first Boston Marathon to raise funds for research and cures at Mass. Eye and Ear.
To support Scott, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/ScottMustard.

Pedro Neto & Pedro Maria Neto (Lisbon, Portugal & Dallas, TX)

Father-son duo, the two Pedros join Team Eye and Ear from Portugal and Dallas to run their first Boston Marathon together. The two are avid runners and enjoy using their love of running to help others.
To support Pedro and/or Pedro Maria, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312.

Cristiano Oliveira, MD (New York, NY)

Cristiano trained as a clinical fellow under the expertise of Mass. Eye and Ear’s Director of Neuro-Ophthalmology (and former Team Eye and Ear member), Dr. Joseph Rizzo.  He has witnessed first-hand the effect that research can have on the quality of a patient’s life and their loss of vision. Today, after completing four years of medical school and six years of training, Cristiano is an Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology at the Weill Cornell Medical Collage in New York, NY. This April will mark Cristiano’s second Boston Marathon as a member of Team Eye and Ear.
To support Cristiano, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/CristianoOliveira

Gerry O’Shea (Boston, MA)

Gerry has experienced the patient care at Mass. Eye and Ear first-hand. Since a young age, Gerry has lived with hearing loss in my right ear. Cholesteatomas, tumor-like growths in both of his middle ears, led to five surgeries over the years. Although he has lived most of my life with hearing loss, his experiences in recent years relating to an eye injury motivated him to join Team Eye and Ear. In February 2010, Gerry underwent surgery at Mass. Eye and Ear to repair a torn and detached retina in my right eye which resulted from a basketball injury.  Gerry says, “my experience while staying overnight after my retina surgery influenced my opinion most about Mass. Eye and Ear. In my recovery room after surgery, my roommate was a gentleman who was struggling with jaw cancer. He had also just come out an extremely invasive and painful surgery. He had traveled from Germany for this surgery at Mass. Eye and Ear. He explained that he had researched the best hospitals world-wide for his type of surgery and chose Mass. Eye and Ear as his best option.” This will be Gerry’s second year Team Eye and Ear.
To support Gerry, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312

Melanie Powers (Franklin, MA)

As a child, Melanie had tubes placed in her ears by Mass. Eye and Ear physicians. Had it not been for the work of those involved in her treatment, Melanie would be deaf today.  Melanie says, “this hospital changed my life and saved my hearing”.  In 2010, Melanie was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the young age of 30.  During her battle with cancer, she became more aware of health and fitness, and realized she was stronger than she thought. Melanie says, “I became more involved with running and obstacle racing, which I fell totally in love with.” Along with this turn of events in my life another tragedy struck my family. Just four months ago, Melanie’s father passed away unexpectedly at the young age of 61. “I have overcome so many life changes these last two years I feel that it is time to better myself and help others,” Melanie says. “I will not only be running for an amazing hospital that helped save my hearing when I was a little girl, I will be running in honor of my biggest fan, my dad. This being my first marathon I am truly honored to experience this dream with such a remarkable team, life always has ups and downs but this by far will be something that I will always remember.”
To support Melanie, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/MelaniePowers.

Jennifer Setlur, MD (New Haven, CT)

Jennifer trained as a fellow at Mass. Eye and Ear in 2011 and 2012 under the expertise of Mass. Eye and Ear’s Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology  (and fellow Team Eye and Ear member), Dr. Christopher Hartnick, “It was an amazing experience to see not only how physicians who are true experts in their field care for complex patients, but also how everyone from the greeters in the lobby to the nurses in the operating room truly care for each other and their patients.” Today, after completing four years of medical school and six years of training, Jennifer runs a Pediatric Otolaryngology practice in New Haven, CT. This April will mark Jennifer’s first Boston Marathon, “running on behalf of Team Eye and Ear is a way to help support a unique institution that I care for very much”.
To support Jennifer, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/JenniferSetlur.

Carolyn Shea (Weymouth, MA)

* Mass. Eye and Ear employee
Carolyn has a passion for both endurance sporting events and helping Mass. Eye and Ear’s patients. She has completed more than a few Ironman Competitions as well as 11 Boston Marathons. As the manager of the Glaucoma Service at Mass. Eye and Ear, Carolyn sees each day the devastating effects that glaucoma has on a patient’s quality of life, “I feel privileged to work here and take care of patients. It is my obligation to try to make people’s lives better”. She also sees how glaucoma can be managed with sight-saving medications. Carolyn says, “Due to illness, age, and/or economic conditions, many of the Glaucoma patients in our clinics cannot afford their required daily medication.” Carolyn is running this year’s marathon to raise funds for the Glaucoma Compassionate Care Fund to help glaucoma patients that cannot afford their medications. 
To support Carolyn, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/CarolynShea
 

Siobhan Sheehan (Duxbury, MA)

Siobhan’s sister Erin underwent extensive treatment at Mass. Eye and Ear after losing sight in one of her eyes at the age of nine. At the age of 40, Erin returned to the hospital in order to remove her defected eye and receive a prosthetic replacement. In June of 2010, just three months shy of her 50th birthday, Erin unexpectedly passed. In memory of her sister, Siobhan’s dental practice, Sheehan Orthodontics, hosted its first annual 5k this past June, raising funds for various charities, one of which was Mass. Eye and Ear. She joins Team Eye and Ear to complete her tenth Boston Marathon in memory of her sister Erin.
To support Siobhan, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/SiobhanSheehan.

Benjamin Simanski (Turners Falls, MA)

At 25 years old, after Law School, Ben began to experience a decline in his vision. He thought his eyes were just tired from the many hours of studying. Ben went to see his local Ophthalmologist who was not able to give Ben a diagnosis and left him searching for answers. A friend suggested that he go to Mass. Eye and Ear. Ben was soon diagnosed with Stargardt disease by Mass. Eye and Ear physicians. Stargardt Disease, affecting approximately one in 10,000 people, is an inherited juvenile macular degeneration that causes progressive vision loss usually to the point of legal blindness. There is no cure. Ben joins Team Eye and Ear to raise funds for research and cures, “Running in the Boston Marathon allows those whom are unable to engage in the scientific world toward cures to bring issues to the public, raise funds, and demonstrate pride in an organization”.
To support Benjamin, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/BenjaminSimanski.

Jennifer Sullivan (Medford, MA)

Jennifer’s mother was treated by Dr. Gregory Randolph at Mass. Eye and Ear for stage IV Thyroid Cancer in 2009. After removing her thyroid and the clusters of cancer, Jennifer’s mother is now cancer free, “my mother is the most important person in the world to me and Mass. Eye and Ear saved her life”. Jennifer joins Team Eye and Ear to support Dr. Randolph who provided exceptional care to her mother throughout the course of her illness.
To support Jennifer, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/JenniferSullivan1.

Dick Svrluga (Cambridge, MA)

Dick joins Team Eye and Ear for his third year. As a founder of Summit Technologies, Inc., which was the first company to bring excimer laser refractive surgery to the market and also played a key role in the creation of Laser Vision Correction and LASIK, Richard understands the importance of medical research in improving the quality of life of people around the world. “I have always held Mass. Eye and Ear in the highest regard,” Richard says, “it is an honor to represent them in the Boston Marathon”.
To support Dick, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312.

Sarah Tremblay (South Boston, MA)

As a pediatric speech pathologist at Mass General Hospital for Children, Sarah treats children with speech, language, feeding and swallow disorders works between the ages of pre-term infants to 18 years old every day.  Last June, Sarah joined the Mass. Eye and Ear / Mass General Hospital for Children Operation Airway team to travel to Quito, Ecuador to make life changing airway reconstructive surgery and post-operative care available to children in need – and also to train the local physicians.  Sarah is running her first marathon with Mass. Eye and Ear to raise funds for pediatric airway research and patient care.
To support Sarah, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/SarahTremblay.

Danielle Trief (Boston, MA)

* Mass. Eye and Ear employee
Although she has previously completed two marathons, this April Danielle will participate with Team Eye and Ear for her first Boston Marathon. As a Resident in Ophthalmology, Danielle has been inspired by the mission of Mass. Eye and Ear and the patients she meets each day.
To support Danielle, please email marathon@meei.harvard.edu or call 617-573-4312.

Claude Turcotte (St-Lazare, Quebec, Canada)

Claude suffers from Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), an inherited, degenerative eye disease that causes severe vision impairment and often blindness. RP also affect’s Claude’s siblings and his children. There is currently no cure for RP, but Mass. Eye and Ear is on the forefront of research. Last year, looking for, Claude came across Dr. Eric Pierce and his research at Mass. Eye and Ear. Claude says, “I believe more funds need to be invested in eye disease research.” Doing his part, Claude is hoping to raise more than $10,000 through his participation this year with Team Eye and Ear.
To support Claude, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/ClaudeTurcotte.

Patrick Walsh (Princeton, NJ)

Patrick has run the Boston Marathon each year since 2002. He is thrilled to run his twelfth consecutive Boston Marathon as a member of Team Eye and Ear. “Quite simply, running Boston has become part of who I am,” Patrick explains. Walsh enjoys writing poetry and spending time with his wife and young daughter. “Having a child makes one reevaluate one’s priorities.  It also makes a person much more sensitive to suffering and hardship.  Maeve is a happy little toddler, but there are others not as lucky.  And one day my little girl may fall sick.  All these kinds of considerations come home to you as a new parent.  Doing something that can made a difference – perhaps even to my own family – is a wonderful idea.”
To support Patrick, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/PatrickWalsh1.

Katherine Warren (Cambridge, MA)

Katherine joins Team Eye and Ear this April for her first Boston Marathon, an achievement ranked high on her bucket list. She has been inspired to run for Mass. Eye and Ear as she has witnessed first-hand the detrimental effects of hearing impairments. Both Katherine’s grandfather and father experience hearing loss in one ear and her cousin has suffered academically as well as developmentally after his hearing impairment was misdiagnosed. She explains, “I can think of no better way to honor the future improvements to health and quality of life for many people suffering from eye and ear disabilities”.
To support Katherine, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraise/KatherineWarren.

Stuart Weiner (Stoughton, MA)

Stu strongly believes in giving back to his community and is very involved with chairing events at his temple. Stu enjoys taking on a new challenge to fundraise for a different type of event – and helping people along the way.  About five years ago, Stu signed up for a fitness boot camp and was hooked on endurance spots. Stu achieved his goal of completing the Boston Marathon last year and rejoins Team Eye and Ear this year for his second marathon!
To support Stu, please visit
http://www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/StuWeiner.

Brittany Williams (Quincy, MA)

* Mass. Eye and Ear employee
Brittany joins Mass. Eye and Ear for her first marathon. As a pediatric nurse at Mass. Eye and Ear, Brittany is inspired each day by Mass. Eye and Ear’s littlest patients. She runs with Team Eye and Ear to raise funds for pediatric airway research and patient care.
To support Brittany, please visit www.crowdrise.com/TeamEyeAndEar/fundraiser/BrittanyWilliams.