Novi Man To Run Boston Marathon, Raise Funds for School for the Blind

Novi resident Terry Harvill will run the Boston Marathon on April 16, but not to set a new record or win the race. He’s running to raise money for Watertown, Mass.-based Perkins School for the Blind, according to a press release.

Harvill is one of 10 runners on the Perkins charity team who will pound the pavement for 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston to raise over $50,000 for people who are blind or visually impaired. Harvill has personally committed to raising $5,000.

The Perkins team, which includes runners from around the country, is the only charity team in the 116th B.A.A. Boston Marathon that focuses exclusively on helping people with visual impairments. All donations will fund the school’s on-campus, regional and international programs.

Harvill, 43, likes high-energy activities – he bikes and climbs mountains – but his favorite sport is running for charitable causes. “I have run close to 30 marathons, and I get the most enjoyment knowing that I’m helping others,” he said.

That’s especially true when Harvill runs for an institution like Perkins. “I consider it an honor to be part of the team that will represent the school in the Boston Marathon,” he said.

Harvill is vice president of corporate development at ITC Holdings Corp. This will be his first Boston Marathon.

“Every marathon I have run has been an adventure, and I don’t expect the 2012 Boston Marathon to be any different,” he said. “The history and stature of the race is such that I consider it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

To support Harvill’s marathon run and make a donation to Perkins, visit http://www.crowdrise.com/PerkinsMarathonTeam/fundraiser/terryharvill.

Perkins School for the Blind, the nation’s first school for the visually impaired, provides education and services to help build productive, meaningful lives for 200,000 people who are blind or deafblind, including those with additional disabilities. Founded in 1829, Perkins pursues this mission on campus, in the community and in more than 60 countries around the world. Learn more online at www.Perkins.org.