Carmel Valley man will run Boston Marathon to raise money for renowned school for the blind

Carmel Valley resident Richard Muscio is running the Boston Marathon on April 16, but not to set a new record or win the race. He’s running to raise money for Watertown, Mass.-based Perkins School for the Blind.

Muscio is one of 10 runners on the Perkins charity team who will pound the pavement for 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston to raise over $50,000 for people who are blind or visually impaired. Muscio has personally committed to raising $6,000.

The Perkins team, which includes runners from around the country, is the only charity team in the 116th B.A.A. Boston Marathon that focuses exclusively on helping people with visual impairments. All donations will fund the school’s on-campus, regional and international programs.

Muscio, 53, knows the challenges of being blind. He lost his sight in 2001 after being accidentally kicked in one eye and suffering repetitive retina tears in his other eye. Six surgeries and 15 months of forced inactivity later he recovered his vision, but not before he had gained 40 pounds. He took up running to lose the weight.

“I experienced first-hand how difficult it is to make one’s way through the world on a daily basis without eyesight, so I applaud what the team at Perkins is doing to make visually challenged people’s lives better and more productive,” he said. “Perkins is doing extraordinary work.”

Muscio, who lives in the Carmel Valley, is a CPA and co-host of a radio show about finances and estate planning. He has won 21 gold medals in his age division in 5k races, and has run four previous marathons.

To support Muscio’s marathon run and make a donation to Perkins, visit https://www.crowdrise.com/PerkinsMarathonTeam/fundraiser/richardmuscio.

Perkins School for the Blind, the nation’s first school for the visually impaired, provides education and services to help build productive, meaningful lives for 200,000 people who are blind or deafblind, including those with additional disabilities. Founded in 1829, Perkins pursues this mission on campus, in the community and in more than 60 countries around the world. Learn more online at www.Perkins.org.