Next month sees the launch of a new appeal for the Island group, RP Fighting Blindness.
The launch of the Eye Love Sight appeal will be celebrated on Sunday 4th July in the grounds of the Priory Bay Hotel.
High tea is on the menu, which you can enjoy whilst listening to the smooth cool jazz sounds of Phoenix.
Trustee of the RP Fighting Blindness, Colin McArthur tells us that that launch is also anticipating a special guest appearance of Louissa Lytton, (subject to work commitments), who has appeared in Eastenders, The Bill and Strictly Come Dancing and who has RP in her family.
Advances in research could restore sight
The group are hoping to spread the message that in a few years time, those who have lost their sight through Retinitis Pigmentosa could have their sight restored.
Colin tells us that the appeal will run over the remainder of the two years left on a research project being undertaken at Southampton Hospital, under the leadership of Professor Andrew Lotery.
The aim of this project is to determine whether adult stem-cells can be taken from the iris at the front of the eye and transplanted to the retina at the back of the eye in order to grow photo receptor cells.
If this procedure is successful it will pave the way for treatment trials in the not too distant future. Doctor Heather Thomson who is carrying out this research will be attending this launch at Priory Bay.
For more information about the event, check out the listing on Events on the Wight
