More than ten million Americans are affected by retinal diseases that cause blindness. Local 12's Paula Toti has made raising awareness a personal mission. She's inspired to keep up the fight by people like 91 year old Mary of Fairfield,OH.
Legally blind for the past few years, Mary just added yellow balloons to her three wheeled bike because she's pitching a cause. In a few weeks she'll likely be the oldest walker in the country at vision walk.
"I don't normally mention a woman's age ... I don't mind. You should be proud. I guess I never thought I'd live this long."
At 91, Mary is living independently-going to stores on her bike, walking the bike to the bike shop when the tires are flat. "What's your vision like? I have none. On central none, some peripheral ."
People with macular degeneration like Mary lose central vision first. Those with retinitus pigmentosa lose outside vision first. Those are just two of the many retinal diseases the foundation fighting blindness wants to wipe out with events that fund research. Many of those affected are children.
"I'm used to it now ... I'm used to it, you meet a lot of people biking and they ask a lot of questions." And she's hoping they ask about the balloons and the fund raising.
"I ride in the street it's easier you don't get those bumps and everything you know." Mary has seen a lot of bumps in the road ... but maybe it was the 20 years as a police dispatcher that helped make her so tough. "I keep going because what else can you do."
Vision Walk is October 3rd in the parking lot of the Montgomery Inn Boathouse. Tara Pachmeyer and Jeff Creighton, also from Local 12 are helping with a pre walk fundraiser Tuesday at Trio in Kenwood,OH.
And Thursday night at Embers they're donating some proceeds and we have a silent auction.
Walk Information:
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009
Location: Theodore Berry Friendship Park
1101 Eastern Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Registration:9:00 a.m.
Walk Start: 10:30 a.m.
For more information go to www.maculardegenerationassociation.org
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