The Second Annual Los Angeles VisionWalk Marches into High Gear Toward Fundraising to Fight Blindness Planned at UCLA on October 26th

A luncheon was held at Maggiano's Little Italy at the Grove in Los Angeles to officially kickoff the Second Annual Los Angeles VisionWalk to fight blindness. The Los Angeles VisionWalk will be held Oct. 26.

Last year's Los Angeles VisionWalk at UCLA included 400 participants. The goal was $50,000, but the walkers exceeded their goal by raising an incredible $130,000.

"We hope to do even better than last year. Our goal this year is $150,000," said Colette Kramer, whose family members are Family Chairs of this year's event. "Everyone is welcome to take part as we hope to make a difference in the lives of people living with vision loss."

In sharing three important facts, Colette asks, "Did you know that..."

1. Over nine million Americans of every age and race suffer vision loss from blinding diseases such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa (RP), stargardt disease and Usher syndrome.

2. Macular degeneration (AMD), has inherited risks, is characterized by a progressive loss of central vision, and is the leading cause of legal blindness in adults over age 55.

3. RP and Usher syndrome are inherited diseases commonly diagnosed during childhood or young adulthood. RP causes severe vision loss leading to legal and/or complete blindness. Children with Usher syndrome are born with varying degrees of deafness and later develop RP.

Colette has a personal interest in the fundraising for research as she, her two children, and many of her family members have problems with their eyesight. They are all affected by a form of RP, which is a retinal degenerative disease causing night blindness and a continual loss of peripheral vision.

"So people can understand what this is like, I am legally blind. I have tunnel vision with only 10 degrees of peripheral vision. I've never been able to drive. It is a dominant gene in my family and has been progressing over a lifetime. I was diagnosed at a very young age. There is a 50-50 chance that your kids will have it. In my family, my mother, may she rest in peace, had six children. Three of us had it," Colette noted. "Even if I go to the mall, I can't see people coming toward me. At times, it's tricky and I end up body slamming people because I don't have peripheral vision. It's confusing for people, because even though I use a cane, I'm in my 40's and I look healthy. People don't think I can be legally blind, but I am."

When deciding to have children, Colette had to weigh the options of passing on the form of RP to the next generation.

"It did come to my mind. Should I have kids? But, my husband said, 'we take it as it comes.' He's very supportive. He reminded me that everybody has challenges. It was a difficult decision, but obviously I'm so happy we did have kids. We have two kids, Samantha and Charlie, who both have it. They are also Family Chairs of this event, along with my husband, Michael. We have great kids. Our daughter, who is 17, does drive and she's not legally blind. Our son, who is 15, is very active in sports. He's a great athlete and he's even a pitcher, which is amazing. He plays guitar and sings. They're very involved kids. Our kids have 50 degrees of peripheral vision. With 20 degrees of peripheral vision, you are considered legally blind," Colette explained. "It's hard. Life has challenges. I'm so involved in this fight and so passionate about the Foundation Fighting Blindness making a difference, you have to stand up, share you voice and take part. Our goal is to raise money to further research which is miraculous. To think that some degree of blindness can be reversed is incredible."

What Colette says is true, especially when you watch a video of the amazing research that is funded by the foundation.

To watch the video: www.blindness.org.

"Our family team, Team Kramer, encourages everyone to come walk with us and make a difference at this special event," Colette offered. "We all have challenges. But, it's up to us to make a positive change in life. We all have the ability to speak up and fight for change!"

The Los Angeles VisionWalk will be held October 26, 2008, at UCLA Dickson Court in Los Angeles. Registration is at 9:00 am and the walk will begin at 10:00 am. For more information visit www.fightblindness.org.

If you'd like to donate mail checks to: Foundation Fighting Blindness, 11900 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite 560, Los Angeles, CA 90064.

For Team Kramer and Los Angeles VisionWalk visit Team Kramer page.

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