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Beatrice Cummings Mayer has always been a woman of vision with a wealth of accomplishments.
Five years ago, Beatrice was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease that causes progressive loss of central vision. Macular Degeneration affects more than 6 million Americans. It is the leading cause of blindness in those over the age of 55. "It's frustrating," says Beatrice. "This was the last thing I expected to have happen to me." Because of her poor vision, it now takes Beatrice almost a week to read one issue of The New York Times. People don't realize how widespread the problem is. But I'm a fighter by nature and I'm unwilling to simply be a bystander while this disease robs millions of people of their eyesight." Beatrice is hopeful that there will be a cure in her lifetime but she recognizes that there is still work to be done. |
Beatrice has also received countless awards for her selfless work on behalf of social welfare, health education and the arts. Always concerned for the well being of those who face physical or social challenges, Beatrice, 79, is now facing a challenge of her own.