Local Doctor Runs To Help Prevent Blindness

By Jan Howard

A Newtown doctor is running in his first marathon to help raise funds to save children’s eyesight.

Dr Felix Almentero is training as a Prevent Blindness Connecticut Team 20/20 runner for the 22nd annual 26.2-mile Dublin Marathon on October 29. Team 20/20 is raising funds for the KidVision Partners for Sight program, which provides vision screenings for children throughout Connecticut to prevent and manage treatable eye diseases.

Dr Almentero knows firsthand the importance of good eyesight. His father, also named Felix, has glaucoma. It was his father’s condition that inspired him to participate in the marathon.

“We all wear glasses in our family,” Dr Almentero said. “It sounded like a good cause. It could affect me or my children in the future. In this way I can help the community as well as my family.”

He is dedicating his marathon run to his father and to his five-year-old son, Felix.

“I used to jog. For a time, though, my work commute didn’t let me do much exercise,” he said. “I started jogging again in May, and decided to try competing.”

He found out about Team 20/20 from a flyer he saw during his participation at Newtown’s 5-K in June. “I thought it would be a great thing to help the community as well as my family by increasing awareness about preventing blindness and at the same time do something that I’ve never done before,” he said.

“As a rehab doctor, sports are part of my interests. I thought it would be good to experience firsthand what it’s like to go through the rigorous training while avoiding injuries, and incorporate that into my resume as a rehab doctor.”

Dr Almentero is a board-certified physiatrist affiliated with Oak Medical Pain and Diagnostic Center in Brookfield.

Dr Almentero’s training has included four short runs on weekdays and a longer run on Sundays. “I have to do one 20-mile run before the marathon,” he said. “I do short sprints or hills on weekdays. For the long run, I increase the miles every week.”

He does his Sunday runs on the 7.6-mile road that loops around Lake Waramaug. Recently he completed almost two loops. “Then I throw myself in the water at the end,” he said, laughing.

Prevent Blindness Connecticut provides a trainer who offers Dr Almentero ways to vary and increase his runs in addition to how to prevent injuries. “Running on dirt is easier on the joints. I do a minimum of the pavement runs as much as possible.”

According to Prevent Blindness Connecticut, more than 1.1 million Americans are blind, yet blindness could have been prevented or treated in half of these cases. Another 2.3 million people are considered to be visually impaired. Every 11 minutes another person in the United States becomes legally blind.

Prevent Blindness Connecticut was established in 1952 as a non-profit agency dedicated to preventing blindness. In addition to eye screenings, the agency provides support programs and eye health information to Connecticut residents.

In the past fiscal year, Prevent Blindness Connecticut staff and volunteers screened over 17,000 children and more than 1,200 adults, according to the agency’s annual report.

“I’m confident about the run,” Dr Almentero said. “If I have to walk it, I will, but I’m training to do a decent pace. I want to do it in four hours, but it will be tough. I’m confident I’ll finish, whether it takes five hours or six hours. Dublin is good for a beginner, weather-wise, and the route is not too hilly.

“The challenge for me is in the fundraising,” Dr Almentero said. “I’m hoping I get a lot of support.”

Dr Almentero needs help in reaching his goal of $4,000, and is looking to individuals and organizations for donations that will be used to keep children and their parents sight healthy.

He is in the process of sending letters to friends and acquaintances and local companies seeking donations and may hold a fundraising event as well.

According to Yvette Alvarez-Anseeuw of Prevent Blindness Connecticut, two-thirds of the funds raised go directly into screenings and KidVision Partners for Sight programs.

She said screenings are being offered at day care centers and preschools with the principle focus on children three to five years old.

Donations may be sent to Prevent Blindness Connecticut, 1275 Washington Street, Middletown, CT 06457, with Dr Felix Almentero’s name written in the memo portion of the check. For information, call 800-850-2020.