Posted by Dead Wax Records on October 04, 2009 at 11:46:02:
Blind runner's call for help brings 100 offers
MARATHON | 'For a lot of people, I'm the motivating force'
October 3, 2009
David Kuhn, slowly losing his eyesight after being struck by a drunken driver years ago, is a devoted runner.But his
vision has gotten so bad now that he needs a guide to run with him.
He had one lined up for the Chicago Marathon next Sunday, then he found out the guide couldn't make it.
"I went into full panic mode," said Kuhn, a 57-year-old DeKalb resident who teaches computer skills, piano and chess at
the Family Service Agency's Senior Service Center, which serves homebound seniors. He was planning to raise money for the
agency by running the marathon.
On Monday, Kuhn put out a call for help through an associate and Dick Pond Athletics, the chain of running stores.
His e-mail box has overflowed, and his phone has been ringing ever since. More than 100 people have offered to run
tethered to Kuhn, as his guide.
Brian Landau, 25, will be Kuhn's main guide. Eight other runners will be ready to step in if Landau wears out or is
injured along the 26.2-mile route.
Even though he no longer needs a guide, lots of other folks just want to run alongside Kuhn.
He has tried to turn people down, but they've been persistent about getting on his team, calling him an inspiration.
"I'm blown away by his resilience," said Landau, a Chicago radio ad salesman. "He's a fearless guy. He's pretty amazing.
There will be a lot of energy feeding off of him."
Landau became interested in being a running guide after spotting a team of physically impaired runners and their guides
in last year's New York Marathon. He mentioned that to someone he met at a dinner party Monday. The next day, she called
to tell him about Kuhn.
"I'm just very deeply touched by how many nice people are out there who just want to step up," said Kuhn, who ran the
Chicago Marathon 10 years ago and has a modest aim for this year's race -- finishing in less than five hours.
"I'm sitting here thinking: Just Monday I'd felt like such a burden to ask people to run with me, and now I'm finding out
that, for a lot of people, I'm the motivating force to help them through. It's crazy."
BY CHERYL V. JACKSON - cjackson@suntimes.com