(June 28, 2006 – Raleigh) The Foundation Fighting Blindness will host the 1st Annual Atlanta VISIONWALK on Saturday, September 16th in Atlantic Station. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Central Park area, and the walk starts from Central Park at 8:30 a.m.
"This fun-filled, family friendly walk-a-thon will help the Foundation accomplish their mission to drive the research to find treatments, cures, and preventions of retinal degenerative diseases including retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration, and Usher syndrome," said Jim Somers, VISIONWALK Co-Chair. "Currently, there are no cures for these blinding diseases. Participation in this national walk moves us closer to having a cure in sight."
Registration is fast and easy on the Internet, just visit www.VISIONWALK.org and select the link for the Atlanta Walk. To register by phone or for volunteer, sponsorship or general information, please contact Michelle Shaljian at 919-781-8014.
The Foundation Fighting Blindness launched their inaugural walk season this past spring and raised more than half a million dollars in five U.S. cities. An additional five walks will take place this fall, including Atlanta, N. Kentucky/Cincinnati, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, and New York.
The Foundation is the largest non-governmental source of funding for retinal degenerative disease research in the world. Diseases such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, Usher syndrome, and Stargardt disease affect more than nine million Americans. The Foundation Fighting Blindness is ranked as a "Top-Rated" charity by the American Institute of Philanthropy. The Foundation was named by Worth Magazine as one of the Best 100 Charities in the country, and consistently commits more than 70 percent of revenue directly to top research institutions including Atlanta’s own Emory University.
Contact: Michelle Shaljian
(919) 781-8014
