Dave McGillivray, President of DMSE Sports and Race Director of the Boston Marathon to Speak at Kickoff of Braille Across America Run/Walk/Bike Challenge

Virtual Challenge to Benefit the National Braille Press

(Photo of Dave McGillivray Courtesy of DMSE Sports)

On Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 7:00pm, Dave McGillivray, President of DMSE Sports and Race Director of the BAA Boston Marathon, is the featured speaker at the virtual kickoff event for the first-ever Braille Across America 2021 Run/Walk/Bike Challenge to benefit the National Braille Press (NBP.)  McGillivray has been the Race Director of the Boston Marathon since the 1980’s and has also run across the USA twice for charity.  He will talk about taking on challenges and the connection to blindness.  There will also be a Q and A with Dave after his remarks.

“I’m honored to speak at the virtual kickoff event for the Braille Across America 2021 Running Challenge,” stated McGillivray.  “In 1978, I ran from Medford, OR to my hometown of Medford, MA for the Jimmy Fund and this feat remains as the highlight of my athletic career.  I’m excited to share some of amazing stories I experienced on that trip with all the folks doing the Challenge and answer their questions.”

Attendees will also hear from Terri Rupp, blind runner from Las Vegas, on why braille and running is important to her. Lisamaria Martinez, of Union City in the Bay Area of San Francisco, CA, who is also blind, will speak about her participation in Braille Across America as she will be walking 2.62 miles per day with her children.

The Braille Across America Run/Walk/Bike Challenge begins on March 17, 2021, NBP’s 94th birthday, and end on April 19, 2021, Patriot’s Day in Massachusetts and the traditional date of the Boston Marathon which has been moved to October 11, 2021 due to the pandemic.

The Braille Across America teams are raising vital funds needed to continue NBP’s braille literacy programs for blind children and adults while each member completes the distance of a marathon (26.2miles) over the course of a month. Participants will log enough miles to virtually run, walk or bike coast-to-coast 2,620 miles.

Guest Speakers:
Dave McGillivray, Race Director of BAA Boston Marathon
Terri Rupp, Braille Across America participant
Lisamaria Martinez, Braille Across America participant

NOTE: Media who want to attend the virtual kick-off event should contact Ann Murphy ann@sevenletter.com

About National Braille Press
National Braille Press is a non-profit braille publisher and producer of braille products. NBP creates products and programs to support braille literacy in the blind community and to provide access to information that empower blind people to actively engage in work, family, and community. For more information visit www.nbp.org