USA: Humanity First's Gift of Sight Director Runs in Southern California Half Marathon

Gift of Sight Program, which opens eye camps in small villages in Guatemala that performs surgeries, treats glaucoma and gives eye glasses to people in need.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch |
Source/Credit: OC Register
By Samantha Schaefer | February 3, 2012

The 21st annual Southern California Half Marathon on Jan. 7 attracted professional runners, walkers, students and families to help raise money for Woodbridge High School's athletic programs.
 
Even before Dr. Ahsan Khan crossed the finish line of the Southern California Half Marathon, he had raised enough money to help 13 people see again.

Khan, a Kaiser Permanente ophthalmologist in Irvine and Yorba Linda, is director for Humanity First USA's Gift of Sight Program, which opens eye camps in small villages in Guatemala that performs surgeries, treats glaucoma and gives eye glasses to people in need.


The cost of cataract surgery is about $100, and Khan raised more than $1,300 for the program before the race.

Nearly 5,600 runners participated in the 21st annual Kaiser Permanente 2012 Southern California Half Marathon, which benefitted Woodbridge High School athletics and local charities. The race was held on Jan. 7 in Woodbridge Village.

The run featured a half marathon, a 5K and a 1K fun run for kids, and was hosted by the Woodbridge Warrior Booster Club. Proceeds will also be donated to the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, which supports IUSD, and the Raise Foundation, which provides resources to parents to help strengthen families.

The event raised $148,000 last year for the high school's athletics, and organizers said they hope to top the donation this year.

The run also funded the inaugural K.J. Bentley Scholarship last year, awarded to two graduating student/athletes who exemplified the spirit and integrity of Bentley: a WHS wrestling coach and teacher who died in 2010. Organizers hope to help two more students with their post-WHS education with the scholarship again this year.

"This event shows the power of parental involvement and the proceeds help fund our outstanding athletic programs," said Jason Viloria, principal of Woodbridge High School said in a statement.

Community members from across the city volunteered and donated their time to help ensure a safe and successful event took place.

Parents baked cookies and brownies distributed at the event, and local merchants donated a free food and drinks for the runners. Former students, including Ryan Conroy who now attends UCLA, came back to volunteer for the race. Conroy, a 2010 graduate of WHS, took a 10 hour night security shift from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. the day before the race.

There were 65 sponsors including local businesses, parents, and the run's primary sponsor, Kaiser Permanente Orange County. Kaiser medical stations were set up along the route and staffed with nurses and doctors to support runners if they needed assistance.

Half marathon winners included Jaques Sallberg or Pasadena, who finished with a time of 1:06:53.7 and Kimberly Kent of Costa Mesa, who finished with a time of 1:22.05.9. Gabe Hernandez of Newport Beach won the men's 5K with a time of 15:29, and Nichole Slykhous of Newport Beach was first of the women to finish, with a time of 17:50.6.


Read original post here: Southern California Half Marathon held in Irvine