OMAHA, Neb. (April 22, 2016) – An estimated 39 million people worldwide suffer from blindness, 80 percent are preventable or curable with over 50 percent of that figure caused by cataracts. U.S. Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin and U.S. Paralympic swimmer Brad Snyder are teaming up to Swim for Sight to help cure blindness during the 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Swim Trials and as they go for gold in Rio. In 2013, Franklin and Snyder joined Prince Harry to light the Warrior Games torch together, fast-forward three years and they are teaming up again to bring light to global blindness through Swim for Sight.
“I am so excited to support Swim for Sight,” said four-time Olympic gold medalist Franklin. “Swim for Sight has been absolutely incredible in pledging that for every $25 donation they receive they will give one free sight-restoring surgery to someone in need.” Franklin currently holds several swimming records, the world record in the 200-meter backstroke (long course) and American records for both the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke (long course). When the 19-year-old is not training or competing, she is very active with various charitable causes, like Swim for Sight, giving back to the community.
For Synder, the global blindness cause is very personal. While serving in Afghanistan, the United States Navy Veteran lost his eyesight in 2011 after an IED explosion. He went on the join the United States Paralympic team winning two gold medals and one silver, at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. Snyder has more than risen to the challenge of his new visually impaired lifestyle and now is helping others see through Swim for Sight.
“Since losing my eyesight I know what it’s like to be left in darkness, but it brings me great joy to shed light on curable blindness and help others get sight-restoring surgeries,” said Synder. “Swim for Sight is such an important partnership to me. Being blind in a developing country can be a death sentence. For me to be able to bring awareness to the global blindness issue and help others see is amazing.”
For every $25 donated to Swim for Sight, a patient living with a curable form of blindness will receive a free sight-restoring surgery ($25 covers the consumable cost of the surgery) with 100 percent of every dollar donated being used to cure blindness. Swim for Sight is championed by Dr. Michael Feilmeier and The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), who with their Swim For Sight ophthalmic partners will perform these life changing surgeries.
“I am so pleased that Missy and Brad have partnered with us to make Swim for Sight a success,” said Dr. Michael Feilmeier, program founder. “Thanks to their help and the support of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and our Swim For Sight partners we will be able to help even more patients around the world. We are not only restoring sight with this surgery, we are restoring life.”
About Swim for Sight
For every $25 donated to Swim for Sight a patient living with a curable form of blindness will receive a free sight-restoring surgery. Swim for Sight uses 100 percent of every dollar donated to cure blindness. Visit swimforsight.us to give today. Swim for Sight is supported by Dr. Michael Feilmeier, the Truhlsen Eye Institute at The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), ASCRS Foundation, Orbis International, Seva Foundation and the Himalayan Cataract Project.
Swimming news courtesy of Swim for Sight.
Classy lady supporting a classy American Hero for a great cause. But it’s Missy, what else would you expect.