Seattle’s Aaron Scheidies Running Boston Marathon

World Champion Blind Athlete

Seattle, Wash.

Photo at right: World Champion blind athlete Aaron Scheidies. Photo courtesy of MABVI

Aaron Scheidies is a 31-year-old who has overcome more in his short life than many conquer in a lifetime.

Born with a hereditary eye condition that slowly deteriorates his central vision, Scheidies, of Seattle, now has about 15 percent of the vision of a fully sighted person. He is also a 7-time World Champion Paratriathlete, 8-time National Champion Paratriathlete, 2011 ESPY Finalist, and was named 2013 Paratriathlete of the Year by USA Triathlon.

This year, Scheidies hopes to defend for a third time the Men’s Visually Impaired Division in the Boston Marathon. He has won that division the last two years, and has come close to breaking Kurt Fiene’s Men’s Blind American Boston Marathon record time. Aaron runs in the Marathon as a member of Team With A Vision (TWAV) and the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI).

“As a visually impaired athlete I am thrilled to be returning to Boston to compete in the largest visually impaired race in the U.S.,” says Scheidies. “The growing visually impaired field at the Boston Marathon is a true testament to the BAA’s support and commitment to athletes of all abilities.”

For 21 years, TWAV has raised funds and awareness for MABVI and promoted greater involvement of visually impaired runners in the race. Runners, both sighted and visually impaired, run for the team to raise funds and awareness, and inspire others with disabilities.

Scheidies is also currently training for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games, and takes time to inspire and keep in touch with supporters through his blog and foundation, “C Different with Aaron.”

Resources

Boston Marathon/Boston Athletic Association: www.baa.org

C Different with Aaron: www.cdifferentwithaaron.com

Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI): www.facebook.com/mabvi

Team With A Vision (TWAV): www.mabcommunity.org/events/marathon/555.html

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