Speakers

Meet Xavier Knott, an autistic athlete whose pursuit of the New York City marathon is about much more than crossing a finish line.  Through his story we'll explore multiple sclerosis, the importance of research and support, and the impact one person can make. We'll also look at the iconic marathon as it celebrates 50 years of bringing all 5 boroughs together through the spirit of running.

SPEAKERS:

Xavier Knott- Athlete and Advocate

Patty Bobryk- Physical Therapist and MS Specialist

Ginger Knott- Athlete, Advocate and Mother

Dr. Chandra is a member of the Niskayuna Rotary Club and the Director, Haiti Eye Clinic, and President, Global Eye Project.  

I would be honored to share how our volunteer team is restoring sight and preventing blindness in rural Haiti.
Because Rotary has long been committed to improving lives through humanitarian service and sustainable community partnerships, I believe our work closely aligns with your mission of Service Above Self.
Since 2008, our team has worked to expand access to eye care in rural Haiti, where preventable blindness remains common due to limited access to care and a shortage of trained eye care professionals.
In 2015, we established the Haiti Eye Clinic in Fond des Blancs. What began as a modest effort has grown into one of the region's busiest eye care centers. Since opening, we have provided more than 139,000 free eye examinations and now care for over 15,000 patients each year, serving a rural population of approximately 500,000 people. Many patients walk for hours—and sometimes even days—to reach the clinic.
In addition to delivering patient care, we are training Haitian eye care professionals to provide high-quality, internationally aligned services, ensuring this work continues for generations. Our U.S.-based nonprofit is entirely volunteer-run, with no paid staff or administrative overhead.
We recently launched a School-Based Vision Screening Program, bringing vision screening into school systems in Fond des Blancs to help children see clearly and succeed in school.
One of our most urgent priorities is the construction of a permanent eye clinic to ensure sustainable, year-round eye care for the region. This is especially critical because our current facility will no longer be available after 2027. To ensure continuity of care, we have secured land, acquired equipment, trained a Haitian team, and completed architectural plans in partnership with Architects Without Borders.