Even though Hoboken resident and radio talk show host Mark Farrell, 35, is vision impaired, that doesn’t stop him from keeping his eyes on the prize.
Farrell hosts the popular current affairs radio show, “Dialogue” Sunday mornings on 101.9 FM in New York City, one of the country’s most listened to jazz stations. But what makes this radio personality intriguing is his dedication to improving the lives of those who are struggling with disabilities and his efforts to show them that it is possible to overcome hardships to become physically active and successful in athletics.
Farrell himself has 20/400 vision in one eye and 20/80 in the other. He has a rare genetic defect that caused him to be born with torn retinas. His condition is not currently treatable with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery.
He recently said that dealing with his own obstacles has motivated him to dedicate a large portion of his time to help those with disabilities.
Because of his condition, Farrell, a natural athlete, could have risked serious injury or even blindness if he were to play most contact sports like football, basketball, or baseball.
Despite his natural athletic aptitude, Farrell was left out of many sports growing up. “You feel isolated,” he said. “It forms your personality in a different way. My perspective has given me the opportunity to show others [with disabilities] that they are able to lead successful lives and have fun doing it.”
With that goal in mind, Farrell has been resolutely involved in programs that teach empowerment and assist those who have difficult innate challenges in leading independent and productive lives.
Farrell has hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the NJ Jersey Special Olympics, is an active supporter of Lighthouse International, a leading resource worldwide on vision impairment and rehabilitation, and supports the New York City Achilles Track Club.
The club is an international, non-profit organization designed to encourage people with all kinds of disabilities to participate in short and long distance running with the general public. It provides support, training, and technical expertise to runners of all levels and disabilities.
Farrell said that it is important for people with disabilities to be able to compete with able-bodied runners because that affirms their ability rather than their disability.
Farrell often competes in triathlons, biathlons, and marathons around the country. Recently he put on his cycling helmet and raced around downtown Manhattan in front of over 100,000 spectators.
Placed in race
On Aug. 4, a number of local and national celebrities were invited to participate in a one-mile Celebrity Chase sprint race held before the New York City Cycling Championship. The main race featured three-time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong.
In the Celebrity Chase race, Farrell competed against, amongst others, six-time major league all-star Keith Hernandez, Olympic gold medalist Jeff Blatnick, Olympic silver medalist Nelson Vails, and Nobel Prize winner Dr. Harold Varmus.
Farrell came in second. He was leading most of the race only to be tracked down in the last 30 yards by Vails, who had won a silver medal in the 1,000-meter cycling match sprint at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
For his second place finish, $3,000 was donated to City Harvest, a New York food rescue organization. “It was euphoric,” said Farrell. “I was so focused, my legs pumping and the crowd cheering. It was a wonderful experience.”
On Friday Farrell is scheduled to participate in the “Face of America 2002” ride. The event is a three- day bicycle ride from Ground Zero to the Pentagon in Washington, DC. The ride is being held to honor those who were killed on Sept. 11th. Over 1,500 cyclists are scheduled to participate.
The event is being sponsored World TEAM Sports, a national sports charity dedicated to bringing individuals with and without disabilities together to undertake unique athletic events throughout the world through encouraging, promoting, and developing opportunities in sports for all people.
Although he works in Manhattan, Farrell said that he is happy to call Hoboken home. “It’s the Village, SoHo – the best parts of New York City combined with Mayberry,” he said. The three-year Hoboken resident said that he has been charmed by the fusion of “quaint” residential brownstone neighborhoods with the vitality and energy of an urban metropolis. “It’s really a great place to live,” he said.