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Westchester-Fairfield VisionWalk Fights Blindness

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Hundreds of people will be in New Rochelle Sunday with the goal of fighting vision loss.

The annual Westchester-Fairfield VisionWalk is in New Rochelle Sunday.

The annual Westchester-Fairfield VisionWalk is in New Rochelle Sunday.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Katie VanBenschoten

The Westchester-Fairfield 5K VisionWalk is Sunday at 10 a.m. at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle. Organizers are hoping to raise $125,000 for the Foundation Fighting Blindness ,to support gene therapy, stem cell and pharmaceutical-based research that could save and restore sight.

More than 10 million Americans are affected by diseases like retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration and Usher syndrome.

Yorktown Heights resident Jennifer Odoardi is chairing the walk. Her husband is losing his vision. 

"We have so much hope thanks to the exciting research and clinical trials underway for retinal diseases," Odoardi said. “Raising awareness and funds for research through the VisionWalk is our way to help move the needle forward, so that one day my husband and many others may not have to live in darkness.”

Stamford resident Anne Katcher, who chairs the local chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, said the goal of the organization is to provide support to those affected by rare retinal diseases and to provide information to the community.

"One of the best ways we can accomplish these goals is by increasing community involvement in our Westchester-Fairfield VisionWalk," Katcher said.

Registration for the walk begins at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.FightBlindness.org/WestchesterFairfieldVisionWalk.

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