Those of us who love to run, keep our eyes wide open as we take each step. We scan for hazards, watch our path, maybe enjoy some scenery along the way. Laura King Edwards of Taylor’s Tale did just the opposite — she trained for and ran Charlotte’s half-marathon blindfolded. Five years later, she did it again… this time with the added stress of a new baby, a recently-published book, and the loss of her little sister, Taylor, to Batten’s disease, a rare disorder which started her on her blind running journey five years before.

The races, the book, and her sister’s battle opened Laura’s eyes to a new purpose — to fight for recognition and research for those rare diseases that get so little money and attention.