Edgar Suris

My name is Edgar Suris and I live in Lake Mary, Florida. I was born in Orlando in 1988 and have been living in Florida most of my life. I am currently a freshman at Stetson University in Deland, Florida. I am a manager for Stetson Men’s Basketball team, which is one of my favorite extra-curricular activities. Outside the classroom I run marathons and half-marathons. I perform all these activities even when having an eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). This is a hereditary condition which in many cases decreases the vision to the point of total blindness. At this moment my vision is 20/100 which classifies me as being legally blind. I cannot drive a motor vehicle and cannot see anything in dim light conditions.

I have accomplished many goals in-spite of my progressive condition including:

-Play high-school basketball as described in the “Sight Unseen” article in the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. (Also available on-line in a few web sites) – 2/7/06

-1st student-athlete to receive the U.S Marine Honor, Courage, Commitment Award at the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame – 4/2/06

-1st Half-Marathon completed in 2:03:13 in Orlando, Florida (Event name OUC) Half-Marathon and 5K – 12/02/06

-1st Marathon completed in 4:43:41 in Baltimore, MD (Event name - The Baltimore Marathon – 10/13/07

I have many other goals and future accomplishments in-mind notwithstanding my visually impairment including:

- Participate in the New York City Marathon

- Participate in the Boston Marathon

- Compete in a Half-Iron man Triathlon

- Compete in an Iron man Triathlon

The C Different Foundation has affected my life in a dramatically positive manner. The foundation was directly responsible for allowing me to compete in my first full-marathon, one of my most cherished accomplishments so far. What is more important, the C Different Foundation gives me hope in participating in future sporting events that I could not otherwise become involved. I am a living example of how the motto of C Different impacts and inspires athletes, and how it allows others to learn about visually impaired athletes abilities, motivation, and determination. Thanks to C Different I have an opportunity to realize my athletic aspirations and what is even more important; it allows me to experience humanity at its best.