[nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from ChairmanGordon Gund

[John Heim]

A lot of people don't like being blind. In fact, I would say that most 
people who are blind would prefer not to be blind.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gloria Whipple" <ladygloria at webband.com>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 4:19 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from ChairmanGordon 
Gund


> What in the heck is wrong with being blind!
>
>
> Gloria Whipple
> Corresponding Secretary
> Inland Empire chapter
> nfb of WA
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of S Baker
> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 14:14
> To: AMoLList
> Subject: [nfb-talk] {Disarmed} FW: A personal report from Chairman Gordon
> Gund
>
>
>
>
>
> SRBaker
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:00:24 -0500
> From: GGund at FightBlindness.org
> To: srbaker at charter.net
> Subject: A personal report from Chairman Gordon Gund
>
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> Like you, Steven, I follow the work of the Foundation Fighting Blindness
> closely. As a donor, I want to know that my donations make a difference.
>
> And believe me, they do.  When I reflect on the last year and listen to 
> this
> video, I am reminded that we have more clinical trials for sight-saving
> treatments underway than ever before.  Clearly, hope and optimism are
> running high.  Incredible strides have been made in the last few years, 
> and
> these remarkable advances would not have been made without your support of
> the Foundation. They include:
>
> Vision Restored.  We are continuing to build on remarkable gains in gene
> therapy.  As you may recall, in a Foundation-funded trial, 9-year-old 
> Corey
> Haas and 19 others received a gene therapy treatment and can now see.  And
> as the trial has expanded, participants have shown sustained improvement 
> in
> vision.  Building on this success, similar gene therapy treatments are
> moving into clinical trials for choroideremia, Stargardt disease and Usher
> syndrome.
>
> Innovative Technology.  The high-tech industry has a treatment I'm
> incredibly excited about-- the world's first commercially available
> artificial or "bionic" eye. Early funding from the Foundation was key to
> getting this engineered retina off the ground.  Building on the studies we
> funded, the light-sensing, implantable "chip" has been tested in a 
> clinical
> trial in Europe with great results. In the study, people who were 
> profoundly
> blind experienced improved vision that could help them to be more
> independent.  In fact, many can now see shapes and recognize large 
> letters.
>
> Groundbreaking Therapies.  A research team funded by the Foundation 
> Fighting
> Blindness developed an innovative technique for correcting the
> disease-causing gene by using stem cells derived from a person's skin. 
> While
> more work is needed to ensure safety, this advancement suggests that 
> doctors
> may someday be able to treat a patient's retinal disease using their own
> skin cells.
> These few accomplishments barely begin to tell the story of all the 
> progress
> that's being made.  And this is why words can never express my personal
> gratitude for your passionate and committed support.
>
> I hope you will take a few minutes to watch the video and see the results 
> of
> your support and the hope it has generated. But most importantly, I hope 
> you
> will see that research is progressing at a terrific rate.  It's been a 
> long
> time coming, but we crossed a critical threshold when our researchers
> actually restored sight. It launched us into a new era when more and more
> people will have their sight saved or restored every year.  A lot of work
> remains.  But we'll get there by continuing to work together.
>
> The Foundation Fighting Blindness values the support you give us by
> donating, talking to your friends, and advocating for increased research
> funding.  As we continue our relentless pursuit to eradicate blindness, we
> hope you will continue your steadfast support of our mission. Thanks for
> envisioning a bright future for the millions affected by retinal
> degenerative diseases.
>
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gordon Gund
>
>
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>
> Check us out on:
>
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> Foundation Fighting Blindness
> www.FightBlindness.org
> 7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100
> Columbia, MD 21046
> 1-800-683-5555
>
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