Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind Announces 4th Annual Light the Way 5k Saturday, September 20th

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB) will host its 4^th annual Light the Way 5k Fun Walk & Run on Saturday, September 20, 2014, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Nationals Park. The annual event benefits the programs and services CLB provides to people of all ages who are blind, low vision, and deaf-blind in the Washington, D.C., region. The event is inclusive to all and includes the Kids' Fun Run for youngsters ages 3-8. 

CLB's Light the Way 5k encourages people of all ages, particularly people who are blind or visually impaired, to maintain active and productive lifestyles. Light the Way 5k further raises the awareness of the capabilities of people who are blind and visually impaired as well as CLB's impact on the community. 

Mike Jacoby of Broad Street Realty has returned to lead a group of co-chairs on an enthusiastic volunteer committee of local business leaders, including Dori Silverman of Coca-Cola as Honorary Chair.

The roster of distinguished event sponsors includes Safeway, National Industries for the Blind, Capital One, the Coca-Cola Company, Howard Insurance, Washingtonian, CBS Radio, ABC 7/News Channel 8, and more.

The Retina Group of Washington (RGW), the largest regional practice providing the most comprehensive retinal and macular care, will also be prominently involved in this year's event.  RGW is teaming up with CLB in a collaborative effort to identify and treat those with—or at the greatest risk for—low vision or blindness.  The relationship calls for RGW to integrate its screening and treatment services with CLB's preventative care and rehabilitation programs to better meet the needs of the community.

Light the Way 5k debuted in 2011 with more than 600 runners, walkers and guides participating and doubled in subsequent years. The event is designed to expand awareness about the comprehensive, integrated range of programs and services including low vision care and rehabilitation, job development training, and employment offered through CLB to people of all ages who are visually impaired or blind, enabling them to maintain independent lives.

"For more than 100 years, CLB has worked to reach individuals throughout the community who need our services," said Anthony J. Cancelosi, K.M., president and CEO of CLB. "With the growing number of aging baby boomers with visual impairments and wounded veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, demand has grown a great deal over the years and we must be prepared to accommodate the needs of the community."

"Our family and the Nationals are very proud to host the Light the Way 5k at Nationals Park for the fourth year," said Mark D. Lerner, one of the principal owners of the Washington Nationals. "We are honored to support Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind in its effort to provide valuable programming and services to blind and visually impaired residents across the region."

Light the Way 5k is a unique and fun non-competitive walk, run, and roll race that begins at Nationals Park and ends on the ballpark warning track.  Opportunities are available to act as a guide to a blind or visually impaired participant. For more information about the event and to register, visit www.LightTheWay5k.org.

About Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB)
CLB serves people of all ages who are blind, low vision, or deaf-blind living in the Washington, D.C., region, by providing vision-health screenings, independent living skills training, support groups, retraining, and job counseling and placement.  Among the veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, 17% of them have visual impairments.  CLB partners with government and private agencies to retrain and employ these wounded warriors.  Independence is our vision.  For more information, please visit our website at www.clb.org.

SOURCE Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB)