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WHO: Ann Morrison, 44, Burlington, a mechanical engineer, mother of three and a fundraiser for The Foundation Fighting Blindness.
WHAT: Morrison founded and now manages the annual fundraiser Comic Vision and has raised more than $810,000 for research into retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration and related retinal diseases since it launched eight years ago.
WHERE: It started with a one-night show in Toronto in 1999, returned three years later and has been an annual tradition ever since.
In 2005, Comic Vision expanded to two nights in Toronto and Oakville and, by 2006, it was up to three, including London. In April the fundraising event added a fourth performance to its schedule, in Vancouver.
WHY: Morrison and her husband David were devastated when, at the age of 5, their eldest child Gavin was diagnosed with RP, an incurable degenerative eye disease. They attended a conference of The Foundation Fighting Blindness and were inspired to help raise research money and educate people about RP and other eye diseases. Now 14, Gavin can see in daylight but not in low lighting, when dusk begins to fall or at night. He's an A student and avid reader who goes to summer camp, loves to swim and snowboard. This year he wrote and delivered his own speech at Comic Vision.
HOW: When Morrison broke the news about Gavin's diagnosis and the need for RP research to the women in her mothers' group, her friend and part-time comic Meg Soper had an idea: "Let's do a fundraiser." Soper promised to get the comedians if Morrison took care of the rest and has performed at every Comic Vision event since. When the Vancouver site was added, two women from the original moms' group, who had since moved out west, headed the organizing committee.
SUCCESS SO FAR: In its first year, Comic Vision sold 200 tickets and raised $7,800. This year it raised $389,000 over four nights. Morrison, now on staff at the foundation, says the key is folks have a blast. "People love to laugh. They come out with mascara running down their faces....Once someone comes, they're hooked, they don't want to get off the mailing list." Her goal: to make it the "Run for the Cure" of comedy fundraising.
QUOTE: "Research is not sexy, but it's so important to know we are making a difference."
FIND OUT MORE: Visit comicvision.ca and ffb.ca |
