Running for Stargardt Awareness: Eavan O’Neill

Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle

Former high school athlete Eavan O'Neill began running marathons as a result of a life-altering event. During her senior year in college at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, Eavan was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare form of macular degeneration that causes vision loss, and often leads to blindness. Soon after receiving this diagnosis, Eavan’s school closed due to Covid restrictions. Eavan found herself back in her hometown of Yarmouth, Maine. While processing the initial shock of the diagnosis, and attempting to understand the new life in front of her, Eavan found solace and strength through running with a fellow Yarmouth High School graduate. Eavan went public with her condition in order to garner support for organizations such as the Foundation Fighting Blindness. In 2023, Eavan ran her first Boston Marathon, raising money for the research work of Rachel Huckfeldt, MD, PhD, an ophthalmologist in the Inherited Retinal Disorders Service at Mass Eye and Ear in Boston. With the help of another Yarmouth High School graduate, Eavan shared her story with the sustainably-oriented Janji running company, where she was named to the Janji Field Team as a “Marathoner + Advocate for the Blind and Visually Impaired Community.” Join our conversation with Eavan O’Neill today on Radio Maine.