#GoLongForDiane
On Saturday, August 22, friends of Team With A Vision, members of the running community worldwide, and friends of Diane Berberian celebrated her for all her achievements in running throughout the years. In addition, Boston City Councilor, Matt O’Malley, announced that “The Boston declared August 22, 2020, as “Diane Berberian Day” in the City of Boston in recognition of her incredible achievements and contributions to the blind and visually impaired athlete community across the City of Boston and Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
Diane Berberian was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA and due to her extraordinary athletic ability as an Ironman Triathlete, her nickname is the “Iron Maven”; and
In 1995, Diane ran her first and fastest Ironman race, which consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2 marathon run. In 2006, Diane started experiencing visual problems and was later diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, an eye disease that is the leading cause to visual blindness. Although her vision was slowly worsening, Diane Berberian’s determination for her love of competing never diminished. In 2010, Diane was about to enter the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii triathlon when she wasn’t able to see herself in the mirror, and even though she was only able to see silhouettes of the other competitors, with the assistance of her friend, she was able to complete and qualify. Diane has run seven Boston Marathons, five Boston Half-Marathons, and six Boston BAA 10Ks and she earned the title of TRI6B National Paratriathlon Champion and was chosen to be on world and national teams, eventually competing in London. In 2014, Diane went on to win the National Championship for Visually Impaired Females at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon and the Para Division of the Beach 2 Battleship Half Ironman. Diane is not only a decorated athlete, but she trains visually impaired and runs with Team With A Vision for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired since 2012. She is an inspiration to athletes around the world for her grit, determination, and zest for living life to the fullest!
In 1995, Diane ran her first and fastest Ironman race, which consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2 marathon run. In 2006, Diane started experiencing visual problems and was later diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, an eye disease that is the leading cause to visual blindness. Although her vision was slowly worsening, Diane Berberian’s determination for her love of competing never diminished. In 2010, Diane was about to enter the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii triathlon when she wasn’t able to see herself in the mirror, and even though she was only able to see silhouettes of the other competitors, with the assistance of her friend, she was able to complete and qualify. Diane has run seven Boston Marathons, five Boston Half-Marathons, and six Boston BAA 10Ks and she earned the title of TRI6B National Paratriathlon Champion and was chosen to be on world and national teams, eventually competing in London. In 2014, Diane went on to win the National Championship for Visually Impaired Females at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon and the Para Division of the Beach 2 Battleship Half Ironman. Diane is not only a decorated athlete, but she trains visually impaired and runs with Team With A Vision for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired since 2012. She is an inspiration to athletes around the world for her grit, determination, and zest for living life to the fullest!
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=347432199614607&extid=9G0ZqDlXK5xEXDB2
THANK YOU DIANE!Here are some of the tributes posted on social media over the weekend.
THANK YOU DIANE!Here are some of the tributes posted on social media over the weekend.
https://www.facebook.com/1587506439/posts/10220689432577526/