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WALK FOR VISION RAISES $25,000 FOR UVEITIS RESEARCH ¶"WALKERS" FROM AROUND THE WORLD PARTICIPATE

Team with a Vision
5K Run and Walk
Boston ¶ September 29, 2001

demi 6 years old Demi Miller personally raised $300 for the Uveitis Research Fund by going around and asking people to sponsor her as a walker in the September 29^th Walk for Vision held in Boston. Demi is shown here with her physician, ÊWalker #1ˆ, C. Stephen Foster, M.D., who heads the research efforts at MEEI and Harvard Medical School into ocular inflammatory disease. The ÊWalk for Visionˆ, now in its fourteenth year, was sponsored by the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Massachusetts Association for the Blind.

ÊKidsÿ get itˆ, said Demiÿs father, Glenn Miller. ÊShe really wanted to do somethingˆ. ÊShe typed emails and went around door to door and asked people to sponsor her in the "Walk". She raised more than I did. I was amazed.ˆ Demi is one of a number of children who took the cause to heart, raising an amazing $1,123 for the Uveitis Research Fund between them. And 8 year old Peter Heward from Toronto, a member of the online group, Uveitis Kids-MEEI, raised $280 from classmates, friends and neighbors. ÊIt is especially heartening to see families and children get involved in this special eventˆ, Dr. Foster commented, as post-walk ceremonies were beginning.

The event, known since its inception as the ÊWalk for Visionˆ, was renamed this year because a 5K Run, and the New England Championship for Vision was added to the festivities. In addition to the Uveitis Research Team, which consisted of patients, their friends and family, and other supporters of Dr. Foster and the MEEI Immunology Service, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary fielded two other teams, the Vision Rehab Team, and the Vision Research Team (general research fund for the Infirmary). The Massachusetts Association for the Blind, the organization that founded the event 14 years ago, also had a large number of enthusiastic participants. The Team with a Vision 5K Run and Walk is an annual event designed to increase awareness about vision loss and to raise funds for research and patient services.

The Uveitis/OID Support Group organized the Uveitis Research Team. In addition to raising much needed funding for uveitis research, the event provided an opportunity for members with their family and friends to come together in mutual support. The 78 walkers and runners who came to Artisani Park to be part of the Team came from 14 states and three countries. In addition, 50 ÊSpirit Walkersˆ from 5 continents, mostly patients with uveitis or other ocular inflammatory disease, walked at precisely the same time in support and solidarity. Spirit Walkers also got others to sponsor them in the walk, and raised money for uveitis research. The chance that someone with uveitis will know even one other person with the illness is remote. Through the online resources, provided by the Immunology Service and Uveitis Support Group, word got out about Êthe walkˆ. The ÊSpirit Walkersˆ, organized by Ed Long from NFLD, Canada, were well represented at the event as their names were added to walker jerseys. And, Edÿs moving letter to Dr. Foster on behalf of these spirited walkers was read at the post-walk New England Clam Bake by Emitza Junea. ÊThey are most certainly here in our heartsˆ, stated Emitza, who traveled from Brazil to attend the event and to see Dr. Foster for an evaluation.

The Clam Bake, held in honor of the walkers and Liz Irvin, who organized the whole event, was a great time. Liz was given an honorary award in appreciation of all her hard work for the support group and the event. In addition, Dr. Foster gave a fascinating talk about cataract surgery in uveitics, and a film, shot at the spring 2001 Parent / Child support group meeting by member, Bobby Maruvada (Core Group, Ltd.), was premiered. The 7 minute documentary-style film will be shown again at the upcoming Child / Parent meeting being planned for Spring 2002 and the November 8^th support group meeting. Hopefully, at some point, it will also be available for viewing on the website.

A Letter from Dr. Foster to Members of the Uveitis Research Team:

To all of those who charitably gave of themselves, their time, their energy, and their financial support, I am deeply indebted and grateful. To those who were with this effort in spirit to beat back the frontiers of ignorance, I say, "Thank you, and God Bless and Keep you". To those who walked with us in "Spirit", I say that you were in our thoughts with every step, and that we spoke at length about you at the New England Clam Bake. Ed's letter was especially touching. And to Josefien in Holland and to Mike in Washington, you walked "in spirit" on the back of Walker #1; thank you.

Will this ever happen again? Who can say. The effort expended by Liz to make it the extraordinary success that it was was enormous.But judging from the spirit of the event, the fellowship of the participants, and the "good time had by all" the night before and at the Clambake, it would not surprise me at all if, somehow someway we manage to get together again and again and again.

In very deep gratitude,

C. Stephen Foster, M.D.

Don't worry if you missed the event; You can be a Member of the Uveitis Research Team, too!

The Uveitis/OID Support Group is committed to raising awareness about ocular inflammatory disease, and to raising funds to support research into these rare illnesses. As our fundraising chair, Liz Irvin, likes to say, ÊGET INVOLVEDˆ.

If you want to contribute to the Uveitis Research Fund, do it. Write a check, made payable to the Foundation for MEEI ¶ Uveitis Research, and mail it today to: Michele Cioffi, Development Officer, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA., 02114. Tell the development office that you heard about the Uveitis Research Fund through the Uveitis Support Group. We would love that. And, join us at the Walk next year.

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