Where Movement Meets Meaning

For Eavan O’Neill, running is more than just exercise — it’s freedom. It’s one of the few things she can do entirely on her own. Whether she’s outside in the sunshine or the rain, running gives her a sense of peace she doesn’t often find elsewhere.

That sense of peace didn’t come easily. In 2020, Eavan was diagnosed with Stargardt disease. Overnight, her future felt uncertain.

“After my diagnosis, I wasn’t sure what life was going to look like literally or figuratively,” Eavan recalls. “For a while, I fell into a really dark place. I didn’t know how to explain what was happening to me or what it meant for my future.”

Then, in the midst of that uncertainty, she found running. Though she’d always been active, Eavan had never considered herself a runner. Training for races changed that. It gave her something to focus on, something she could control when so much else felt out of her hands. Running became her lifeline, a source of strength when it felt in short supply. As she built her endurance, she found herself rebuilding emotionally as well.

“Running made me feel strong and capable again,” says Eavan. “It gave me independence, confidence, and purpose at a time when I felt like I was losing all of those things.”

Running also became her first avenue for storytelling, a way to process her diagnosis and share her experience with others.

“When I started running races, I began raising money and awareness for vision research,” says Eavan. “It allowed me to tell my story, but through something positive. It was empowering.”

One of the first organizations Eavan connected with during that time was the Foundation Fighting Blindness. It quickly became her trusted source for information about Stargardt disease and other blinding diseases.

“The Foundation was the first place I found after my diagnosis that felt trustworthy and reliable,” says Eavan. “They combine science and research with spreading awareness and education, and that balance is everything. It’s why I chose them as the first organization I ever fundraised for, and the one I still turn to today.”

As she built community through running, Eavan realized that what she loved most wasn’t just the miles, it was the connection. Even when running alone, she realized she was part of something bigger — a network of people who understood the drive to keep moving forward.

That sense of connection sparked an idea that inspired Eavan to create something new — a safe space that could offer that same connection to people experiencing vision loss. In 2021, she founded Brightside, a support group and community designed to bring blind and low vision individuals together.

“The idea for Brightside came to me in my doctor’s office,” says Eavan. “I remember sitting there feeling really down. I couldn’t find anyone who understood what I was going through. Friends and family were supportive, but they couldn’t fully relate. I wanted to create a space where people could connect with others who truly got it.”

What began as a small virtual meet-up quickly evolved into something much bigger. Today, Brightside brings together members from across the country, and even around the world, to share stories, laugh, vent, and find strength in one another. Eavan says each meeting leaves her feeling lighter and more hopeful. What started as something she needed has become a source of empowerment for many others.

Recently, Eavan hosted the first-ever Brightside Retreat in Boston, bringing members together in person for a day centered around connection, creativity, and simply being themselves. For many, it was the first time they’d gathered with others who fully understood their lived experience.

“It exceeded every expectation,” says Eavan. “That’s the kind of space I always hoped to create; a space where people could simply be themselves.”

Eavan describes her diagnosis as both one of the hardest and most transformative experiences of her life. It’s led her to incredible, creative, and resilient people, and given her a new sense of purpose. That purpose now extends into her role as a Foundation Fighting Blindness Brand Ambassador, where she shares her story, raises awareness, and helps inspire action across the community. It’s a natural extension of who she is — a connector, a storyteller, and someone committed to driving meaningful change for people with vision loss.

Looking ahead, she hopes to grow Brightside into a nonprofit organization that can host more in-person retreats and offer additional resources for members. She envisions future gatherings that incorporate movement and creativity, from yoga and running to art and reflection, reminding everyone that you don’t need perfect vision to create something beautiful.

Through her storytelling, her runs, and the community she’s built, Eavan is redefining what it means to live boldly and authentically with vision loss.

“I think human connection is the most important thing in the world,” says Eavan. “When you find it, when you realize you’re not alone, everything starts to change.”