Foundation Fighting Blindness

Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world’s leading private funder of retinal disease research.

To drive the research that would lead to preventions, treatments, and vision restoration for the spectrum of degenerative retinal diseases, specifically macular degeneration – including age related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, Usher syndrome, Stargardt disease and Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). Together these conditions affect more than 10 million Americans and millions more throughout the world. Student volunteers will receive blindness sensitivity training the morning of the walk to understand the needs of the low-vision and blind community. This will help them properly help those who require additional assistance. Volunteers may verbally explain the general layout of the venue, give concise directions to a participant, explain what food items are at the refreshment tent, and give a description of the different activities around them. Volunteers are also educated about how to approach those with low-vision or blindness and their guide dogs.