to my fundraising webpage
______________________
Thank you for visiting my webpage. As a researcher and physician at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, I am running the 2009 Boston Marathon with a group of four others to raise money for neuro-ophthalmology research through the HONORS program.
What is Neuro - Ophthalmology?The optic nerve brings vision from the eye to the brain. If you imagine the eye to be a digital camera and the brain a computer, the optic nerve can be thought of as the cable that attaches the camera to the computer. If the cord (optic nerve) is injured, even if the camera (eye) and computer (brain) are functioning, you will not be able to transfer clear images from the eye to the brain and a person will have decreased or blurred vision that cannot be helped with eyeglasses, medications or surgery. Many diseases can injure the optic nerve including decreased blood flow (Ischemic Optic Neuropathy), demyelination (Optic neuritis/Multiple Sclerosis), infections, inflammations and tumors. Regardless of the cause, when the optic nerve is injured we call it an optic neuropathy.
What is HONORS (Harvard Optic Neuropathy Organization to Restore Sight)? HONORS is a translational research collaborative intended to understand the mechanisms involved in optic nerve injury through basic science research in order to develop and test novel treatment strategies that will preserve and restore vision following optic nerve injury in humans. Every dollar raised will be used in this research effort with the goal of developing a human treatment within 10 years.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts.
Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!