06 Oct Philadelphia VisionWalk 2011

Posted at 14:14h in 2011 by admin 0 Comments
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It is that time of year again – time to join Gavin’s Gang and sign up for Philadelphia’s VISIONWALK. Our humble walk has grown so much that this year we are happy to announce a change in venue: date is Saturday, October 22 and our new location is Independence National Historical Park! Registration begins at 8:45 am (Gavin’s Gang will have its traditional tent with breakfast before and after the 3 mile walk—we have been known to be noisy so you can not miss us!) and walk begins at 10:00 am. Stick around after the walk, too, as there will be food, fun and festivities for the whole family!

We have lots of great news to report this year. In June, the first-ever gene therapy clinical trial for Stargardt disease began at Oregon Health & Science University’s Casey Eye Institute in Portland. StarGenTM is a treatment that is being developed by Oxford BioMedica, a biopharmaceutical company in the United Kingdom. The Foundation Fighting Blindness (and your donations!) funded many of the pivotal lab studies that are making Oxford’s gene therapy trials possible. With continued funding, we are optimistic there will be a cure for Gavin in the near future. Check out FFB’s web site at www.blindness.org if you want to read more.

We are incredibly grateful and humbled by our friends and family who over the course of five years have helped us raise more than $30,000 to support the fight against retinal degenerative diseases.

Click this link to visit the official VISIONWALK website which will give you a lot more information and pictures of last year’s walk. Just click on this site and tap onto Gavin’s Gang and there you are!

If you have any questions please call (215-849-4337) or email gavinsgang@disantodesign.com but most of all we hope to see you in October!

Many many thank yous!!
Rose DiSanto, on behalf of the Hatfield family

Note:  In order to coordinate Susquehannock involvement in the VisionWalk, we have created a Facebook Event.  Please RSVP on the Event page or by emailing josho@susquehannock.com.

17 Sep Philadelphia VISIONWALK ’10

Posted at 12:55h in 2010 by admin 0 Comments
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An invitation to participate in the Philadelphia VISIONWALK ‘10 from Anne Matchulet, who is Gavin Hatfield’s mother:

Hello Friends in Gavin’s Gang!!
Since the first Philadelphia VISIONWALK was held four years ago, Gavin’s Gang has been out in full force and our little group has raised nearly $30,000 to support the fight against retinal degenerative diseases. The generosity of our friends and family is humbling.  VISIONWALKS are now being held in 50 cities across the country and with this support major strides are being made in the prevention, treatment and cure of these diseases. There is a lot of good news and more hope is on the horizon!

This past year, we attended a conference hosted by the Foundation Fighting Blindness in Washington, DC and are encouraged about the cutting-edge advances that are being made in treating the various diseases that are robbing millions of their eyesight.  You may have seen recent news coverage about trials held here in Philadelphia where people are getting their sight back as a result of research supported by FFB.  The participants in this study are now about to have the treatment in their second eye because the results have been so dramatic.  For them a cure is at hand!!!

VISIONWALK ’10 is one way that the FFB not only raises money but also awareness of the various forms of retinal problems. This year VISIONWALK PHILADELPHIA ‘10 is Saturday October 9, 2010 with registration at 7:45 am and the walk starting at 8:45 am.  For those of you who have joined us before there is a new spot. (We outgrew the Wissahickon!!!)  This year it is at Memorial Hall– just off Martin Luther King Drive.  Gavin’s Gang will have its traditional tent with breakfast before and after the 3 mile walk—we have been known to be noisy so you won’t miss us.

I am attaching a link to the official VISIONWALK website which will give you a lot more information and photos of last year’s walk.  Just click on this site and hit Gavin’s Gang on the scroll and there you are!

http://www.fightblindness.org/site/TR/Events/VisionWalktr?fr_id=3540&pg=entry

We hope to see you on October 9th!
Many many thank yous!!
Anne, Gerry, Marykate and of course Gavin!

We have created a Facebook event for Camp participation in this worthy event.  You can access it HERE.