Lean on Me: A Friendship Story Written in a Whole New Light

When CEO, Bill Horne, announced that Laser Spine Institute’s Employee, Ashley Will, was named Marketing Chair for the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ Tampa Bay Area Chapter, we couldn’t help it and felt very proud of our own Ashley, who as a marketing director, is also responsible for developing and executing the company’s  marketing strategies, launching new brand initiatives, and defining Laser Spine Institute as the leader in endoscopic spine surgery.    Ashley, as the strong marketer she is, will add a new dimension to the foundation’s efforts to increase brand awareness of an organization that drives research in prevention, treatment and the cure for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.

In addition to her deep sense of community and hope, Ashley has reasons that are very close to her heart and inspired her to get involved. 

A Turning Point

For the past 15 years, Ashley felt powerless watching a close family friend, Sharyn Davidson, and her two children, mother and three brothers be affected by retinitis pigmentosa (RP).   

RP refers to a group of inherited diseases causing retinal degeneration.  People with RP experience a gradual decline in their vision because photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) die.

To make a long story short . . .

Genuinely empathetic for her dearest friend’s condition, Ashley knew she had to get involved when Sharyn was forced to stop driving due to her eyesight 10 years ago.  From that moment, Ashley had witnessed Sharyn deal with what was in front of her, recognize it, accept it, and work with it tenaciously.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) has funded many important RP research and clinical advances.  These advances in research have helped Sharyn retrieve some of her vision through clinical trials.  In Sharyn’s own words: “As a direct result of our VisionWalk, a number of my family members and I have been involved in an experimental drug treatment which has had very exciting results for us.  A year ago, my vision measured less than 10 degrees.  I can tell you that I would have been ecstatic to simply have been able to keep what remained of my sight for the rest of my life, or even prolong the further loss of it.  But in the past year, I have had some rather significant gain in my visual field, which is measurable and is helping to lead to a clinical trial for this drug.  Not only is my mobility greatly improved, but I now dare to dream of driving again one day.  Could this be possible?!”

What an amazing turning point for Sharyn and her family! 

“Watching three of my close friends battle retinitis pigmentosa is what originally inspired me to join the fight against blindness two years ago. I am proud to further that commitment in this new role with the organization,” says Ashley Will with eager determination as she was going to find the only limits of the possible to go beyond them — and do the impossible.   

The Future Looks Bright

In her new role, Ashley will help support two premium events that the foundation hosts every year and increase the organization awareness in the Tampa Bay area.

Dining in the Dark: A true feast for the senses.  

A rare and unique sensory awareness experience that takes guests on a journey of taste, sound, and touch…all in the dark.  During the dining experience, other senses are heightened and texture became paramount. But more important, it gives all of the assembled a greater window into the world of the sightless. With all visual cues gone, one has no choice but to rely on our other senses to eat and interact.

VisionWalk: A race to cure blindness.

A national signature fundraising event of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.  Since its inception in the Spring of 2006, the program has raised over $13 million to fund sight-saving research.  As promising treatments move into critical human studies, the need for research funding is greater than ever before. Tens of thousands of people have taken important steps toward a cure by participating in a 5K VisionWalk. 

To learn more about the Foundation Fighting Blindness, please visit http://www.blindness.org.