A Conversation with Maine Athletes Eavan O’Neill and Skyler Samuelson Espinoza

For the May edition of Embers, we are elated to be joined by two amazing athletes and Mainers, Eavan O’Neill and Skyler Samuelson Espinoza. In 2020 Eavan was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Stargardt's Disease that causes vision loss. Following her diagnosis and the onset of the pandemic, Eavan took to the outdoors by running, which soon grew into a passion. A year later, Eavan ran the Maine Marathon, raising money for research to find treatment for genetic eye diseases, and her passion for long distances continues. Though initially a collegiate rower, Skyler found herself as a “pilot” on the United States’ Paralympic Cycling team, following her success as an individual cyclist. As an athlete with unimpaired vision, Skyler teams up with a visually impaired athlete to race in tandem.