Legally blind woman hopes to "run" onto Ellen DeGeneres show

From The Missoulian in Montana:

Rhonda Copeland is running to “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in Burbank, Calif. - without ever leaving Missoula.

Copeland, who is legally blind and calls herself the Vision Runner, carries a white cane while she runs around town racking up 1,222 miles, the distance to the daytime talk show's studio.

Her route in Missoula runs along South Avenue to Big Flat Road, where she turns around.

Copeland calls hers a virtual run because, for safety and logistics reasons, she cannot actually jog to California.

She wants to average 36 miles per week for 34 weeks to complete the distance by mid-December, hopefully in time to make it on the show; already, she has run more than 20 percent of the mileage.

Copeland chose “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” because she has watched it for years, and she is an advocate of DeGeneres' style of motivation.

DeGeneres is proactive, Copeland said. “If you want something, go out and do it.”

Copeland's goal for her run is to help others by raising $30,000 along the way for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

A Missoula native, Copeland was diagnosed 12 years ago with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye disease, and she has gradually been losing her eyesight.

Copeland has been running since 1992, and she refuses to give it up. Running is supposed to be one of the easiest sports, she said. But with her deteriorating vision, it now takes her 15 to 20 minutes to get ready to run with the flashers and road identification she wears.

She's not discouraged, though. Two years ago, she ran in the first Missoula Marathon, but she worried she would get lost because she had found herself off course in other races. But with volunteers at every corner, she successfully navigated the route.

“It was great - a blind person couldn't get lost,” Copeland said, laughing.

Copeland had to give up driving, reading novels (unless the type size is enlarged on a computer), bike riding, photography and making crafts.

“Sometimes I rely on the help of strangers, and they're more than willing to help,” she said. “It says a lot for humanity, I think.”

Over the past six months, she has been using a white cane, enabling her to walk and run without animal assistance.

Others with vision impairment do require more assistance, however, which is why Copeland has chosen to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind, an organization entirely dependent on private donations. It pairs guide dogs with the visually impaired for free.

“To me, it's hugely important to be independent,” Copeland said. “Everyone wants to have a sense of independence.”

Copeland thinks her goal of $30,000 should be achievable through grass-roots fundraising. She emphasizes the importance of a donation of $1, which would mean 30,000 people would need to contribute.

“It's a lot of people donating just a little money to make a huge difference in the world,” Copeland said.

People can make donations at the Web site RunOverToEllens.com. Through blogging and shooting videos daily, Copeland keeps her progress up-to-date for followers, and those who make donations gain access to special videos and information.

Copeland also hopes the blog can be an inspiration for people. After visiting the site, she said they might decide to make the changes they need to improve their outlook on life.

“You can envision a new reality for yourself,” she said.

Rather than looking at her loss of vision as an impairment, Copeland looks at her situation as opening up an opportunity - if she hadn't lost her eyesight, she wouldn't be running for charity, she said.

With Guide Dogs for the Blind and empowering others in mind, Copeland has been working on contacting “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” staff by e-mail, Twitter and sending in a package with video and news clips. If the show recognizes her project, she is confident the fundraising will take off.

Copeland's goals are short term, because of her vision. If she loses one important cell, certain activities, such as running, could suddenly become unsafe for her, limiting her future plans.

Meanwhile, she is shooting for exposure for her cause, and running around Missoula helps.

“I'm visible,” she said. “Hopefully people will say, ‘Oh, there's that Vision Runner.' ”