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If you’ve donated and been following the video blog daily updates on my Run Over To Ellen’s fundraising project, you know that I’ve been dealing with a bunch of heavy equipment and construction machinery and closed roads on my running path this past month. Well, now the construction project has been completed, and my running trail has open and easy access again.

I wanted to let the crew know how much I appreciated everything they did to help me out this past month, so I wrote a letter to the Editor of our local newspaper, and am also mailing a copy to the construction company that they work for.

Here’s the letter to the Editor that I sent this week:

 Editor:

I just wanted to give a big shout out to the crew at Jensen Construction Co. for being so helpful and kind to me during the road work out on South Ave. the past few weeks.

I’m legally blind, and I’d just started my virtual Run Over To Ellen’s (www.RunOverToEllens.com ) 1,222.25 mile fundraising run for Guide Dogs for the Blind.  (See Missoulian article: Wednesday June 3, 2009.) Since my vision is limited, I have been running on South Ave. as it’s a controlled path that is easy for me to navigate with my white cane. 

When I was told that South Ave. was going to be closed, I became concerned.  How was I going to get the mileage in that I needed each week to meet my goal? So not knowing what to expect, I ventured out the first day construction was to begin. With my white cane in hand and running clothes on, I made my way slowly and cautiously to the “Sidewalk Closed” sign.  After waiting less than a minute, one of the workers approached me.  I explained to him about my dilemma and he was more than willing to accommodate me.  He put his elbow out, and escorted me around the enormous construction equipment and mounds of gravel until we were on smooth sidewalk again. 

He told me it was no problem, just wait for one of them each day, and they would be glad to help me around.

So for this past month, that’s just what I did.  I know Brad helped me several times, and Tom a few times. And while I can’t remember the names of all the other great folks that served as my eyes for me, I really want them ALL to know how much I sincerely appreciate their kindness and willingness to help me run my 36 miles a week on the path I can navigate.

I’m sure that construction crews don’t get enough recognition for a job well done, but in this case, it goes well beyond an “Atta boy” and “Job well-done”. You folks at Jensen on the South Avenue crew all made what could have been a major setback for me, a huge success! So a monstrously huge Thanks!

How ’bout it?

- Vision Runner 

 www.RunOverToEllens.com

www.RunnerInsight.com

www.FirstGiving.com/VisionRunner

P.S. If you donated and can’t find (should be in the FirstGiving email response you got when you donated) or remember the private access link to follow the daily video blog updates, email us at admin at RunnerInsight dot com and we’ll be happy to shoot you the access website link again.

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Tags: construction project, Ellen Degeneres, ellen degeneres tickets, ellen tv show, eyesight, fundraising project, guide dogs, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Jensen Construction, legally blind, legally blind runner, Missoulian, Run Over To Ellens, running clothes, RunOver To Ellen's, virtual run, Vision Runner

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 at 3:32 am and is filed under 2009 Fundraising Run, Montana, Running, Vision Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.