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Media contacts:
Sharon Goolsby, Public Information Office: (864) 577-7505
Katie Rice, Public
Information Office: (864) 577-7506
World Class Runner to Visit SC
School for the Deaf and the Blind
Kenyan Henry Wanyoike, 32, who
lost his vision in 1995, was primed to join an elite group of Kenyan athletes
when he suffered a stroke and lost 95 percent of his vision. Four years later, he entered a pilot program at
a hospital in
Wanyoike is hoping to break
his world record in Sunday’s New York Marathon.
Following the marathon he will visit the CBMI’s
“At SCSDB, we work to give
our students the tools needed for successful, independent lives,” said Heather
Patchett, executive director of The Walker Foundation. “However, there is no stronger message to a
young person than from a mentor like Mr. Wanyoike who understands and
experiences the same challenges they have and yet has achieved great success.”
Wanyoike runs connected at
the wrist to his guide, Joseph Kibunja, a childhood
friend, who cues him when to turn, accelerate or avoid an obstacle. With
the help of guides, Wanyoike established himself as a
world class non-sighted runner. He has
won gold or silver medals in the marathon, half marathon, 20-KM road race, the
10,000 meters, 5,000 meters and the 1,500 meters. His time at the London Marathon in 2005 is
still the world record for runners who are blind.
CBMI is the leading provider of eye care programs and
services for people
suffering from blindness and other disabilities around
the world. Since 1908, this nonprofit,
Christian ministry has been rehabilitating and healing blind and disabled
people in the world’s developing nations.
Currently CBMI supports more than 1,000 projects in 113 countries –
primarily in Asia, Africa, Latin America and in
CBMI’s international
headquarters is in
The SC School for the Deaf and the Blind is a
specialized instructional and resource center. It provides services statewide
for individuals who are deaf, blind or sensory multidisabled, their families
and the professionals who work with them. SCSDB offers programs for preschool,
elementary, middle school, high school, sensory multidisabled, vocational and
postsecondary educational students, as well as a variety of outreach and
support services. The main campus is located in
The Walker Foundation is a 501 © (3) public, non-profit foundation, licensed by the S.C. Department of Public Charities. Through the generosity of its contributors, the foundation aids and strengthens the work of SCSDB by providing grants, referral information, public awareness programs and direct assistance.