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This year, the Sadecki family participated in the Vision 5K, a charity road race that brings together blind and sighted runners and walkers to support a collaboration of blindness organizations. Proceeds and donations fund critical programs to help the blind and visually impaired transform their lives.

Jim competed in the visually impaired division using his brother Mark as his sighted guide. The two completed the 5K course which looped around Boston’s Fenway neighborhood in just over 34 minutes (Jim actually finished 1 second ahead of his brother – see the race results). Jim placed 17th out of 28 blind competitors. Other members of the Sadecki team included Nancy, Francine, Holli and Jill Damboise and Brian Rock. Together we raised over $2000 for the Carroll Center for the Blind and we want to say THANK YOU to everyone who supported us this year! The Carroll Center has been a long time client of Mark’s and was there to give Jim the support and rehabilitation he needed immediately after the accident that resulted in his blindness.

Be sure to check out the photos from this event!

The Vision 5K is the only 5K championship race in the United States for blind athletes—and, as one of very few races that offer prize money to blind athletes, it attracts the fastest blind runners in the world.

The loss of his eyesight has not diminished his passion for hunting or the outdoors. For the past two years, my brother Jim has been fortunate enough to be invited to take part in the New York Bowhunters’ annual Physically Challenged Hunt at Savannah Dhu Wildlife Preserve in Wayne County. The first year he came up empty, but this year he found more success. He even found his way into the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Curious about how the disabled can still hunt? Read Gary Fallesen’s article “Love of the hunt overcomes: Disabilities don’t keep bow enthusiasts from game” at the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

Note: The article referenced here is no longer freely available and is only available in the Democrat & Chronicle’s archive.

It wasn’t until I began working with the disabled nearly three years ago that I was able to recognize the similarities between us rather than the differences. Still, I found myself avoiding face-to-face encounters or shying away from opportunities to form friendships with the disabled people I met, outside of those I worked with on a day to day basis. I was usually afraid of offending, appearing insincere or over stepping my boundaries, mostly because I wasn’t sure what those boundaries were.

Just over a year ago, my brother Jim completely lost his eyesight in a traumatic accident. This gave me a unique opportunity to talk openly and honestly with a disabled person without fear saying something completely offensive. (more…)