BY MICHELLE MILLER
STAFF WRITER
A local man will be running in
the Boston Marathon this year in
order to give back to the institution
that provided an education
to his blind son.
Steve Sutton, of Maryland,
said his goal is to raise $3,500
for the Perkins School for the
Blind, which was chosen as an
official charity for this year’s
Boston Marathon.
``I applied to become a member
of this team and I am very
proud to say that I was selected
along with 14 other parents,
staff, volunteers and friends of
Perkins,’’ said Sutton. ``Our challenge
is to not only run the 26.2
miles, but more importantly
raise funds and awareness for
Perkins.’’
Sutton said his middle son,
William, attended Milford Central
School from kindergarten
to third grade. He said resources
were no longer available for his
son, so after the third grade, William
was referred to the Perkins
School for the Blind in Boston.
William became a residential
student at Perkins in 1999 and
Sutton said he is proud to say
his son graduated from the institution
in 2008.
According to Sutton, William’s
academic program was complimented
by participation in
group activities such as sports,
chorus, school plays and horticultural
projects.
``When I saw the opportunity,
I thought it would be a good
way to give back. Perkins has
done so much for him (William),’’
said Sutton.
Sutton, who has always
wanted to run in the Boston
Marathon, said he started
running in 1999 and has participated
in eight marathons.
He said he has been trying to
get outside to get his training
in to prepare for the race, but
the weather has not been too
cooperative.
``Hopefully I can get out
there more before the marathon,’’
he said.
Sutton said he has been
conditioning by using a treadmill
when not being able to get
outside.
``It is out of gratitude for the
teachers and staff of Perkins
that I am running in the Boston
Marathon and as part of the
Perkin’s team,’’ said Sutton. ``I’m
proud to take on this challenge
to raise money and awareness
for Perkins and the school’s
many programs and services.’’
According to Sutton, the
institution serves nearly
100,000 people every year on
its campus and around the
world.
Sutton said he has raised
more than $2,000 so far. He has
a fund page that can be found
at http://support.perkins.org/
goto/steve.sutton.He is also
hosting a raffle benefit to raise
money. The raffle includes gift
certificates to Nicoletta’s Italian
Cafe in Cooperstown; for a personal
massage; to Autumn Cafe
in Oneonta and to the Lemon
Tree in Cooperstown. Tickets
are $5 each or five for $20.
Contact Sutton at 435-2178 or
by e-mail at offnrunn@yahoo.
com for tickets.
The Boston Marathon is held
on April 19 and is aired on the
Universal Sports Network.
