Peter's Team Diabetes Triathlon (and formerly Marathon) Blog

Monday, September 17, 2007, p. A3

Banks, Paul
The Telegram

Myra Rodrigues is pounding the marathon pavement for what she feels is the liberation of those with vision loss.
The 64-year-old Toronto woman started her power-walking initiative in St. John's on a rainy Sunday with the Newfoundland Provincial Marathon. She is now endeavouring to power-walk a marathon in each of the provinces and territories to raise money for the CNIB, the national organization that assists those with vision loss.
That includes Rodrigues. She has just two per cent of her vision, seeing only bright lights and bright colours when up close.
That's why when she walked a half-marathon Sunday, she could be seen escorted by a guide, holding onto lightweight flexible tubing attached to her guide's fanny pack.
She started as a client with the CNIB when she was four years old - after being affected by infantile glaucoma - and says she understands how important the services are for those with vision loss.
"I'm turning 65 and thought it would be nice to do a race in every province, but I thought, 'That's kind of selfish, I should be doing it for a purpose.' I couldn't think of a better purpose," she said.
Rodrigues is trying to raise money to expand the CNIB's national braille and audiobook collection, and to help with the transfer of audiobooks from analogue to digital.
She said the library has a good selection, but with braille being a tactile media, it eventually needs replacing.
"I won't say it's a poor collection, but the problem with braille is it wears out because you're reading it with your fingers, and it's being shipped through the mail. Something embossed five or six years ago is being sent all over the country, and being handled extensively."
She said the audio transfer work is also important as the analogue book service is being discontinued, adding it needs money now as it could take up to 10 years without additional funds.
But for her, braille is the key for those with vision loss.
"Braille is important for literacy; to be literate. You can listen to the radio, but you're not literate. Braille gives you spelling, it gives you context. It's important for reading," she remarked.
"Braille equals literacy equals freedom, really, and equality. To do simple things even - writing phone numbers, labelling CDs, your canned goods or doing a shopping list - you can't do that well if you're doing that in an audio format."
She has an affinity for Canadian literature and is putting a focus on that in her campaign.
"I'm a bit of a patriot," said Rodrigues, who retired six years ago as a research analyst for the attorney general's office with the Ontario government.
No dollar amount target has been set, but 100 per cent of what is raised will go to the CNIB as she is picking up her own expenses.
In all, Myra's Marathon, as she's dubbed it, will take her to 13 different race events across the country in the next year. Her next will be in Saint John, N.B., at the Marathon by the Sea next Sunday.
She will finish up at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Sept. 28 next year.
Of course, as a power-walker with vision loss, her goal also requires the commitment of several guides in her journey, which is a skill in itself, Rodrigues emphasized.
Joining her in St. John's was a fellow power walking club member from Ontario, Jessica Mills.
"You have to be more aware of your surroundings. I talk to Myra and describe what is going by of interest. You're watching your own footing and watching for someone else. We have to be careful of what's around us," said Mills.
And communicating is not just for safety - it's also to help with the whole experience.
"I'm acting as her eyes. It's safety and also the environment. It can be a neat looking tree or a beautiful house."
Rodrigues, meanwhile, is also a scuba diver and has participated in white water rafting.
She also serves as a member of the CNIB's national board of directors. She's now working with two others to create a new textbook for teachers of braille.

pbanks@thetelegram.com