Blind Childrens Center

4120 Marathon Street, Los Angeles, California 90029 (323)664-2153

A family-centered agency serving children with visual impairments

IN THIS ISSUE

Our marathon man

Conquering the Wall

Lawrence F. Meyer

Very few people challenge themselves the way Lawrence F. Meyer has done to help the very special children at the Blind Childrens Center. He is among the rare marathon runners in the world who have met the challenge of running on all seven continents.

Through the blazing heat of Mount Kilimanjaro, across the freezing terrain of Antarctica, Larry takes each step for the children. His most challenging run may have been his most recent, The Great Wall of China Marathon, with its uneven cobblestones and stairs. It all began in 2003 when he ran in Sydney, Australia. The following year he ran in the Swiss Alps Marathon. In 2005 the bone-chilling conditions of the Antarctica Marathon didn't stop Larry because a week later, on his way home, he stopped to run in the Fin Del Mundo Argentina Marathon. 2006 kicked off Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, and the Swiss Alps once again and, finally, this year he ran the Great Wall of China Marathon. He has also run in ten marathons in the United States including the Los Angeles Marathon for several years.

"I participated in the eighth annual Great Wall Marathon in Beijing on May 29th. It was the toughest one I've ever done. It was by far the most difficult because you go on the wall twice. I was doing fine for the first 21 miles and then I just hit this thing that was just straight up," said Larry. "The best part of the experience for me was the people, because we ran through several villages, people from all walks of life are out there cheering you on."

As Larry so eloquently puts it, "Each step I take is for the children." A modest man who would never blow his own horn, this year Larry's marathon efforts have raised $18,000 for the children at the Center.

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