Mar 6, 2018
Lombardi Family Reaches More than $250,000 in Funds Raised
On Saturday February 10, 2018, Vince Lombardi and his family hosted the 17th Annual Light the Darkness Valentine’s Day Dinner and Dance in support of Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC).
“It seems that every year this event becomes more and more popular,” says Lombardi, who welcomed over 450 guests to the Montecassino Banquet and Event Centre in Woodbridge. “We’re so grateful to everyone who comes out and contributes to the amazing atmosphere, and to Fighting Blindness Canada.”
When he was 31, Vince was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. Knowing that the blinding hereditary disease could potentially affect his children, he decided to act. With the help of friends and family, he began hosting an annual Valentine’s Day Light the Darkness fundraiser, which has raised a total of $251,000 for sight-saving research since it began.
“The research being done by FBC-funded scientists is so important for so many people,” says Lombardi. “The breakthroughs in vision science over the past 17 years have been inspiring to so many people, and I know every dollar we’ve raised has helped bring us closer to treatments and cures.”
Over one million Canadians are affected by retinal forms of blindness, such as retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration, but treatments and cures are in sight. With the help of dedicated supporters like Vince Lombardi, FBC has contributed over $30 million dollars to combat retinal diseases, funding the top vision researchers at universities and hospitals across Canada.
“It makes us so happy to see more young adults joining Light the Darkness,” says Rosa Lombardi, Vince’s wife. “I’m so proud that at such young ages they realize and understand the power of participating and giving to special causes like this one.”
Many individuals and families like the Lombardis host their own events in support of FBC. If you are interested in hosting an event, please contact us at info@fightingblindness.ca.
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