Menu
'Race for You (V)' draws 170 runners, raises $6,500
McCOOK, Neb. -- About 260 kids will get sunglasses with the $6,500 raised by the first-ever, first-of-its-kind "Race for You (V)" relay between Cambridge and McCook on Saturday.
McCook eye doctor Rob Stamm said this morning that coordinators and Republican River Runners Club members were very pleased with the turnout of 17 teams of 170 runners who ran the 34-mile relay to raise awareness of the risk of eye disease for children who wear glasses but not sunglasses and to generate funds to provide protective sunglasses for them.
"It was outstanding," Dr. Stamm said of the support for the relay and the cause. "We had a great turnout -- about 170 runners -- wonderful sponsors, and the weather was amazing."
Dr. Stamm said the cause, to protect the eyes of youths who wear glasses, resonated with the runners.
In helping to coordinate the inaugural relay event, Dr. Stamm said that more than 70 percent of damage to eyes occur within the first 20 years of life, and of the general population, 30 to 35 percent gets macular degeneration. As most kids with glasses don't wear prescription sunglasses, Dr. Stamm estimated that one out of three kids today with glasses will eventually lose their eye sight to the disease when they are older.
"Our children's eyes are not being protected from the damaging UV rays that can cause macular degeneration in later years and this is especially true in children who wear glasses," he said.
Dr. Stamm said that response to the relay exceeded the expectations of coordinators and the running club, with experienced and lesser experienced runners sharing the desire to protect the eyesight of children. Even the thought of running in February didn't seem to deter the teams, he chuckled.
Runners participated from McCook, Cambridge, Lexington, Holdrege and North Platte.
The relay raised $6,500 as of race day, Dr. Stamm said, adding that some funds are still coming in.
Estimating $25 per pair of sunglasses per child, that means about 260 kids will get high-quality prescription sunglasses.
McCook optometrists Dr. Frank Williams of Walmart Vision Center, Dr. Tom Moser of My Family Vision Clinic and Dr. Stamm and his partner, Dr. Dirk Gray, of Lifetime Eyecare, are coordinating on the project. "We wanted to do something that makes a difference and create an awareness of this most vulnerable group," Stamm said, adding that he's hoping this will be the first of many yearly races.