EP 38 | "A Race Against Blindness" | Dr. Stephen Johnston | Father Fiercely Seeking a Cure for 9-year-old son & 5,000 others | Iron Man Dad Athlete and Radiologist

https://araceagainstblindness.org/

Welcome back to the competitive edge podcast, I'm your host, Daniel Hickman.. where fathers learn from fathers.. to sharpen their competitive edge as an athlete… and in life!

Where we interview dads that mirror the 3 pillars of this show: Fatherhood, Fitness, and Mental Focus

This is a super special episode with Dr. Stephen Johnston, a father, Radiologist Physician, a new non-profit founder, and a competitive Ironman athlete. When he found out his nine-year-old son, Luke, was going blind as a result of a rare disease, he decided to create a non-profit organization named A Race Against Blindness to fund "eyesight-saving research" for his son and thousands of kids like him.

Though Stephen is relatively new to the nonprofit world, he's a man on a mission to raise Millions of dollars to fund a promising clinical trial and taking on challenges like Ironman Races to raise money and be an example for his son. So far, A race against blindness has raised over six figures and also has been featured on GoodMorningAmerica.com, Multiple podcasts, and TV spots in multiple major markets.

Stephen lives outside of Phoenix and spends his spare time training hard for his next Ironman challenge and traveling with his family to create lifelong sighted-memories for Luke.

SummaryIn this episode of the Competitive Edge Podcast, host Daniel Hickman interviews Stephen Johnson, a father, radiologist, and founder of the nonprofit organization A Race Against Blindness. Stephen shares his journey of creating the organization after his son, Luke, was diagnosed with a rare disease that causes blindness. He discusses the importance of mindset and mental toughness in facing challenges and how he uses Ironman racing as a way to raise funds and be an example for his son. Stephen also highlights the progress and challenges of the clinical trial and the need for support in funding the research. The episode concludes with advice for dads facing medical diagnoses and the announcement of a raffle fundraiser for A Race Against Blindness. In this episode, Daniel Hickman interviews Steve Johnston, the founder of Erase Against Blindness, a non-profit organization that raises awareness and funds for retinal diseases. They discuss the raffle for a customized van, the hardest Ironman race, where to find Steve Johnston, and closing remarks and advice. Takeaways

• Maintaining mental health and self-care is crucial when facing challenges.
• Asking for help and seeking support from others is important in navigating difficult situations.
• Having a strong mindset and being mentally tough can help overcome obstacles.
• The fundraising process for medical research can be expensive and challenging.
• Supporting organizations like A Race Against Blindness can make an immediate impact in the lives of those affected by rare diseases. Erase Against Blindness is hosting a raffle for a customized van, with the proceeds going towards taxes so that the winner can keep the van without any additional financial burden.
• The hardest Ironman race for Steve Johnston was the Victoria race in Canada, where he had to overcome physical challenges and maintain proper nutrition and hydration.
• Listeners can find Steve Johnston and Erase Against Blindness on their website eraseagainstblindness.org and on social media platforms.
• Steve Johnston's closing advice is to never quit and to remember that you're never out of the fight.

Chapters 00:00Introduction to the Competitive Edge Podcast 00:30Introduction of Stephen Johnson and A Race Against Blindness 04:07Stephen Johnson's Journey to Becoming a Radiology Physician 06:46Taking on Ironman Racing as a Challenge 10:28The Importance of Mindset and Mental Toughness 13:02Defining Competitive Edge 15:22Luke's Diagnosis and the Mission of A Race Against Blindness 18:00The Process of the Clinical Trial and Fundraising 23:07Maintaining Mental Health and Self-Care 29:47Advice for Dads Facing Medical Diagnoses 38:34Stephen Johnson's Spirit Animal: The Honey Badger 41:19Traveling with Luke and Memorable Stops 42:37The Raffle Fundraiser for A Race Against Blindness 43:20Raffle for a Customized Van 44:18Hardest Ironman Race 46:04Where to Find Steve Johnston 46:38Closing Remarks and Advice