Foundation Fighting Blindness To Host Blind Wine Tasting & Auction June 8 to Benefit Sight-Saving Research
Event Co-Chair Doesn’t Let Vision Loss Slow Her Down
Los Angeles, CA (April 8, 2013) — The Foundation
Fighting Blindness, a national nonprofit focused on vision-saving research,
will host a Blind Wine Tasting & Auction on Saturday, June 8, to raise
awareness and critical funds to help develop treatments and cures for
retinal diseases that affect more than 10 million Americans. The event,
taking place at 2 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles,
will offer guests tastes of a variety of wines from Temecula, Napa, Malibu
and Paso Robles wineries.
Co-chairing the fundraiser are Yvonne Chester, of Napa, and Pamela
Paterson, of Woodland Hills, who both know the impact of sight loss.
Chester, a retired corporate securities lawyer and currently the Secretary
of the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ Board of Directors, has the genetic
retinal disease retinitis pigmentosa (RP), which is
causing her to go blind. Despite having less than 1 percent of her vision
left, she continues to pursue her passions, which include recently
completing a culinary program at The French Laundry in Yountville (often
named "Best Restaurant in the World"). She also sings with the Threshold
Choir, whose mission is to sing to those who are dying. Paterson’s daughter
Chelsea, age 18, is affected by Stargardt disease, a
juvenile form of macular degeneration that robs central vision, prompting
her mother’s leadership in the Los Angeles Chapter. A past chapter
president and vice president of membership, Paterson has worked hard to
raise awareness and funds, including serving as chair for the Los Angeles
Dining in the Dark benefit. And, her VisionWalk team, Save the Balls, has
raised thousands for the Foundation’s research efforts since 2008.
Both women are hopeful for the future because of promising research and
clinical trials that are underway for retinal diseases. In February, the
FDA approved the first-ever retinal implant, called the Argus II, which
can help people with advanced RP have better mobility and see shapes. And,
breakthrough gene therapy clinical trials have restored significant vision
in children and young adults affected with a rare retinal disease,
including a young boy who could put away his white cane
and play baseball after the treatment. There are also human studies
underway evaluating stem cell-based treatments and pharmaceuticals to help
people who are losing their vision.
Individual tickets are available for $100 each or $125 at the door and
sponsorship packages begin at $500. For ticket and sponsorship information,
contact Cheyanne Sauter at 310-450-2910 or CSauter@FightBlindness.org. To
request media credentials for the event, or to coordinate an interview with
a spokesperson, contact Allie Gebhardt at 410-423-0643 or AGebhardt@FightBlindness.org.
What:
Blind Wine Tasting & Auction, Benefiting the Foundation Fighting Blindness
Where:
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza
2025 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
When:
Saturday, June 8, 2013
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
About Foundation Fighting Blindness
The Foundation Fighting Blindness is a national non-profit organization driving
the research that will lead to preventions, treatments and cures for retinitis
pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of
retinal degenerative diseases that affect more than 10 million Americans. Since
1971, the Foundation has raised more than $500 million as the leading
non-governmental funder of retinal research. Breakthrough Foundation-funded
studies using gene therapy have restored significant vision in children and
young adults who were previously blind, paving the way for additional clinical
trials to treat a variety of retinal degenerative diseases. With a coveted
four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the Foundation also has nearly 50
chapters that provide support, information and resources to affected
individuals and their families in communities across the country.