2000 U.S. Blind Olympic Track & Field Member, Marla Runyan Signs On With LensCrafters as Official Spokesperson for "Give the Gift of Sight" Program.

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CINCINNATI--(BW SportsWire)--Sept. 6, 2000

Contract Negotiated in Conjunction with Track Record Enterprises

and Flynn Sports Management

LensCrafters announced today that blind Olympian, Marla Runyan will serve as spokesperson for their charitable GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT vision care program. Runyan earned a spot on the 2000 Olympic Track and Field Team after finishing 3rd in the 1500 meters at the Olympic Trials earlier this Summer, making her the first legally blind athlete on a U.S. Olympic Team.

The deal was crafted in conjunction with Track Record Enterprises (TRE) out of Los Angeles, California and Marla's personal management team, Flynn Sports Management location in Gray, Tennessee. TRE serves as the exclusive marketing firm for the Southern California Olympians (SCO) and its Koroibos Foundation, Inc. and has coordinated Olympian appearances at more than 300 events and programs in behalf of the SCO. Flynn Sports Management represents many of the world's leading track and field athletes and has been voted by Euro Meetings Organizers as the No.1 athlete management company in the United States for the last three years.

"I'm thrilled to be part of such a worthy cause," said Marla Runyan. "We'll be working to provide free eye exams and glasses for needy children and adults around the world. I hope to be an instrumental player to help GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT."

Runyan, 31, has been legally blind since the age of 9, due to a childhood disease. The sight in both her eyes is listed at 20-300. Runyan will compete in the 1500-meter competition at the Sydney Games. When running, Runyan can only see the track using peripheral vision and is unable to see people's faces or read competitive numbers. In the past, to compete in the high jump, she put reflective tape on the bar. In college, Runyan learned to run hurdles by counting the steps between barriers. She could not see any hurdles from the starting line, but her coach taped playing cards to the top of the obstacles to indicate how high she needed to leap.

"We are very excited to have Marla join us," said Frank Baynham, Chairman of the LensCrafters Foundation which operates GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT. "Marla's own life experiences and her sincere dedication match the mission and spirit of our programs. She's an inspiration."

GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT is a family of vision care programs. Since 1993, LensCrafters volunteers have provided free vision care to 1.3 million people in North America and developing countries.

In North America, GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT provides vision services and glasses to those in need through local community-based programs and LensCrafters stores, and to children through two traveling Vision Vans.

In developing countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, Laos, Mexico, Bolivia and the Philippines, quality vision care is a luxury that few can afford. Even for those who can get a prescription, a pair of glasses may cost upwards of two years' salary.

GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT collects, cleans, repairs and hand-delivers these used glasses to children and adults all over the world who desperately need, but cannot afford them. These glasses are cleaned, repaired and delivered to those in need by LensCrafters volunteers and doctors, in conjunction with Lions Clubs International.

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