Foundation Gathers in Fight Against Blindness

Since being formed in 2009, the Foundation Fighting Blindness’s Naples chapter has become an important part of the national organization’s success. 

So said Alyssa Steel, Director of Events for the foundation’s south region, before the start of the chapter’s recent Night for Sight Cocktail Reception. This was the 12th year for the fundraiser, which was held at The Players Club and Spa in the Lely Resort Community.

The chapter, she explained, is “really integral to the foundation’s over 50-year history. They have hosted this event for 14 years and over the past 12 years, they’ve raised more than $250,000 for the foundation. So we’re really grateful for them and all of their hard work. They invest so much time in putting this together every year. It’s really wonderful to work with them.” 

Since its inception in 1971, the foundation has raised more than $856 million toward researching preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration and Usher syndrome, a rare genetic disease that causes deafness or hearing loss, retinitis pigmentosa and other retinal degenerative diseases.

“These conditions affect millions of people so our mission is to drive that research forward,” said Steel. 

Local chapters provide a wide variety of offerings, including educational materials, speaker series, webinars and updates on important advances in research, along with socializing at dinners and cocktail receptions.

There’s also a free genetic testing program, “My Retina Tracker,” that Steele said is by many doctors, nationwide, to ensure their patients have access to that vital assessment.

“The chapters are a great way to get plugged in,” she added. 

Wendi Dwyer, the foundation’s director of philanthropy, was the reception’s keynote speaker. A retinitis pigmentosa sufferer, she’s been legally blind for 12 years. Dwyer’s remarks centered on her personal journey with the disease and how she hasn’t let it be a barrier to achievement. 

Like Steel, she said local chapters are an excellent way of making important connections for those afflicted by retinal degenerative diseases, especially for the newly diagnosed.

“I so appreciate that work because when I was newly diagnosed, I didn’t know where to turn to find out where resources were in my community,” said Dwyer, while chatting before the event’s start. “Connecting with a chapter can enable the newly diagnosed to interact with people who might be further along in their diagnosis. “People can help one another and get the word out about the work we’re doing.”

Dwyer said the foundation also offers something else that is of vital importance: “hope backed by research, hope backed by science.”

“A lot of people have wishful thinking and they want to say, ‘Oh, you’re going to be fine and I’m sure they’re going to find a cure’” she explained. “That’s lovely, but it’s really great to know there are people actually working for a cure and that I have research that I can see that is moving along. Knowing there’s hope backed by science has really changed my life and made me much more proactive in my eye health and in preserving as much sight as I can so that I still have sight left when a treatment is found.” 

For more information about the Naples Chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, visit https://www.fightingblindness.org/chapters/naples-chapter or for the main organization, https://www.fightingblindness.org/.