Longtime Tucker City Council member Anne Lerner and her husband, Ted, have been volunteering with the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) due to his vision loss from Retinitis Pigmentosa, a progressive loss of night and peripheral vision. The couple say they’ve received invaluable support from the organization.
The Lerners are supporting FFB at the 18th annual Atlanta VisionWalk on Sunday, April 21, at Blackburn Park in Brookhaven.
The Atlanta VisionWalk is one of the 35 national walks that will bring thousands of people around the country together to raise funds for sight-saving research. The walk has raised $1.28 million since its inception.
“Ted was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 2012, and his vision loss has progressed through the years. We are hopeful the medical research supported by the Foundation for Fighting Blindness will one day lead to a cure,” Anne said.
Eighteen teams are registered for Atlanta VisionWalk, and the fundraising goal is about 50% realized. In 2023, the walk raised $80,494.
Sponsors, walkers, and supporters are welcome to sign up to help here.
Ted and Anne are volunteer committee members this year.
“We personally understand the need to raise critical research dollars for treatments and cures for blindness. The Atlanta Foundation for Fighting Blindness has helped us with genetic testing, resources to make daily life a little easier, and emotional support to help guide us on this journey,” Anne said.
Events like the Atlanta VisionWalk help FFB invest in research projects conducted by the world’s top retinal experts. They have achieved remarkable success that will forever change the lives of those affected by blinding retinal diseases, including the first FDA approved gene therapy for the eye that is restoring vision to people with certain retinal diseases.
Since its inception in 1971, FFB has raised more than $915 million to find preventions, treatments, and cures for inherited retinal diseases. The foundation funds research projects at the field’s most prominent laboratories and research clinics, and there are currently more than 40 clinical trials underway.
