Blind athlete Michael Stone races Ironman Boulder with purpose

By Alissa Noe of The Boulder Daily Camera
For Michael Stone, an avid triathlete and 15-time ironman veteran, August’s race in Boulder means more to him than any full triathlon he’s previously raced in. He’s competing this year to raise money for the University of Iowa’s blindness research program, which his family participated in to help pave the way for a cure.
And this year, for the first time, the 47-year old Boulder shop owner won’t be running the 140-mile competition solo. In Boulder’s third annual IRONMAN, Stone will be led through the course by longtime friend who will, more or less, be his eyes.
Stone has battled a hereditary disease known as retinitis pigmentosa for decades, but it’s only recently reached the point that’s left him “functionally blind,” meaning that he only has peripheral sight in his right eye and can distinguish light and dark.
“It gets progressively worse. It’s a degeneration much like macular degeneration,” Stone said. “It’s when you lose your photo receptors, so your light-receiving cells. It’s a genetic condition. My little brother has it too.”
With the Stone clan’s help, the University of Iowa’s Dr. Alex Bassuk and his team of researchers have found a possible cure for blindness, but they need to raise a substantial amount of funds before they can take the next step to ensure that the treatment is safe for humans.
On Aug. 7, when the IRONMAN comes to town, Stone hopes his efforts will garner enough attention to raise roughly $1 million for the cause. It’s the least he can do for the family friend who corrected his 10-year misdiagnosis and unearthed the groundbreaking research.
To read more, click here for the original story.

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