Blind Iraq Vet runs Disney Marathon with Lt. Colonel

Disney marathoner lost his eyesight while serving in Iraq
By Mark Jenkins, Reporter
Last Updated: Sunday, January 09, 2011 2:17 PM
LAKE BUENA VISTA --
At 5:30 a.m. and 45 degrees, more than 18,000 athletes pounded the pavement for a morning marathon.

The runners ranged from professionals to amateurs, to those who can't walk and another who can't see.

While serving in Iraq, Captain Ivan Castro was nearly killed in a mortar attack that took his eyesight.

After numerous surgeries, he is now more active than most people.

"I cycle swim, I climb, I do triathlons. But the most important thing is that I can still serve," said Castro.

This was his 14th marathon.

Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Bryan ran with Castro in the Disney marathon, attached to each other by a shoe lace.

Castro has been called courageous and heroic, but today he respectfully earned the title "Goofy".

He was one of 5,000 runners that took the goofy challenge of running both the half marathon Saturday and the full marathon Sunday.
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Disney marathoner lost his eyesight while serving in Iraq