Patrick Galligan, 50, from Edwardsville, IL, is legally blind with retinitis pigmentosa and is considering a run/walk across the U.S. in 2005 to raise funding for research and awareness to retina diseases causing blindness (Retinitis Pigmentosa/Macular Degeneration).

With a departure date from the west coast on April 1, 2005 he figures he can reach the east coast by September 1, 2005. He will attempt to average 20 miles per day, 6 days per week with 6 miles running, 14 walking. At this pace, 3,000 miles could be covered in about 25 weeks. An experienced marathoner, Galligan finished the 2003 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in a time of 4:13.

In order to accomplish this goal, Galligan is reaching out to the running community for assistance. He will need guide runners, support vehicle (RV/Tour Bus), corporate sponsorships, and someone to help to design a route.

Anyone interested can reach him at 618-656-6599 or via email, pgalligan@sbcglobal.net .
For more information on retinitis pigmentosa, check out www.blindness.org.