Race Is On, but Its Creator Has Taken Another Route

The Torrance City Council on Tuesday approved plans for the Mobil St. Patrick’s Day Run for the Blind next March, while expressing regret that Vistas for the Blind, the sponsoring organization, and Tom Sullivan, the race’s founder, have parted company.

In May, Sullivan and his wife, Patty, withdrew their names and participation from the annual event, which had been known as the Mobil Tom Sullivan 10K Run-Stride, blaming philosophical differences with Vistas. Neither the Sullivans nor Nan Harman, president of Vistas, would elaborate on the nature of the disagreement.

“It was Tom’s decision to end his association with the race,” Harman said. “We both feel that the separation at this time is best for Vistas and the Sullivans personally.” The Sullivans founded Vistas in 1979.

Harman acknowledged that the Sullivans will be missed, but said she does not believe that current organizers will “have any problems whatsoever attracting runners for the race.”

The race has been run annually since 1980, raising about $1.5 million to benefit blind children and their families. Mobil Oil Corp. became a sponsor of the race in 1989.

Mayor Katy Geissert said she had tried without success to bring the parties back together. “Tom Sullivan was the inspiration behind this race; however, Vistas has done the organizational work,” the mayor said. “Both parties recognize the value of each other. Sometimes like a family--it’s difficult for outsiders to intervene. We hope that the relationship could be renewed in some way in the future.”

Councilman Bill Applegate also said he is unhappy about the split. “I’m dismayed that there has been a parting of the ways,” he said. “I view this as Tom Sullivan’s run. The Sullivans were the push that made it happen to begin with. If it weren’t for them there wouldn’t be a race today.”

Although the council supported Vistas’ plans for the race, which will be run on Sunday, March 15, next year, council members sought a commitment from Harman that some of the money be used to address needs in Torrance.

Harman promised the council that at least $10,000 would be spent on vision screenings for Torrance elementary students to help identify and correct vision problems. Last year, most of the $278,000 raised by the race was donated to the Institute for Families With Blind Children and the Children’s Hospital, which funded a fellowship in pediatric eye research.

The run will begin at Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance with a wheelchair race at 7:55 a.m., followed by a 10K run at 8 a.m. ESPN plans to televise the race.

A 5K run and a half-mile run for elementary school children are also part of the program.