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Panek, who is blind, will navigate the 26.2 miles tethered to a sighted guide. He has set a fundraising goal of $26,200 to help others who are visually impaired and children with autism who are on the waiting list in need of a Guiding Eyes dog.
An athlete in his youth, Panek gave up sports for many years after losing his eyesight. With a lot of hard work and a little help from other runners, however, he has rediscovered his love for the open road.
“Even though I can’t see anymore, running with guides allows me to enjoy the outdoors, make new friends and help others understand it is possible to overcome the challenge of visual impairment,” he shared.
A Westchester County resident, he fulfilled one of his personal goals earlier in the year when he crossed the Boston Marathon finish line, greeted by his Guiding Eyes dog, Gus, a two year-old yellow Lab.
“When my eyesight went, I was hesitant to even walk slowly down the street by myself,” said Panek. “But then a great gift was given to me – I put my trust in a guide dog. Now that I have Gus, I can navigate the world with confidence and I want others to feel the same way.”
In New York, Panek will be guided along the 26.2-mile route by Michael Friedman, a longtime participant in Running Rabbis, and Amy Hanlon, an ultra-marathoner.
For more information or to make a donation to Guiding Eyes in support of Panek’s Marathon run, visit http://www.guidingeyes.org.
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