Holliston Woman to Run Boston Marathon for the Blind

Curtosey Perkins School for the Blind

Holliston native Kelly Cote will run her second consecutive Boston Marathon on April 16, but not to set a new record or win the race. She’s running to raise money for Perkins School for the Blind.

Cote 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. Cote has personally committed to raising $10,000.

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.

Cote, 32, first ran the Boston Marathon in 2011 to raise money for Perkins because she has worked at the school for a decade. “I had an amazing experience last year,” she said. “I fully believe in Perkins’ mission, and I am committed to helping students with vision loss achieve greater independence.”

As Supervisor of Outreach Short Courses at Perkins, Cote plans and coordinates weekend and summer programs for public school students with visual impairments to learn daily living skills, participate in recreational activities and more. “I strive to be a role model for my students and hope that my strength and determination encourage them to both reach their own goals, as well as pursue an active lifestyle,” she said. 

As a child, Cote said she was inactive and didn’t participate in sports. “I never would have imagined that I would run a marathon in my lifetime. Now here I am looking to run my second marathon! 

Cote, a graduate of Holliston High School, was a longtime resident of Holliston before moving to Watertown.

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

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.