Since 2012, Usher 2020 has funded millions of dollars to multiple researchers developing a variety of therapies, and we are now faced with the daunting task of moving these treatments to clinical trials. Several years ago, as we attempted to move our first prospective treatments to trials, we determined the current model to do that was not going to work for a rare disease. So Usher 2020 collaborated with Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEEI) to create Odylia Therapeutics, non-profit biotech dedicated to moving rare retinal disease therapies to clinical trials for patients.
How You Can Help With a Give It Up 4 Sight Campaign
When people are diagnosed with Usher Syndrome and other rare retinal degenerative diseases, they are often told, “Take care of yourself. Eat healthily. Don’t smoke. Don’t drink. Avoid the sun. You are going blind.” When you are going blind, the last thing you want to do is to “give up more” to keep your vision a little longer.
So, we are asking you, “What are you willing to give up to keep someone else from going blind?”
We are not asking for much: Give up something small so that we can do something big!
Take the Challenge: Give up something that might not be so great for you for one week: Maybe fast food, smoking, designer coffee, drinks with friends, sugar, or maybe that extra glass of wine. Or do something that is good for you that you might not want to for one week: Exercise every day, walk the dog, read a book. Whatever you want, so long as it would be a sacrifice for you. Just for one week!
During that week, every day, post your Give It Up 4 Sight sacrifice on social media and ask your followers to support you by giving to Usher 2020. Any amount will make a difference. Remember, include our website www.usher2020.org on each post so that people can donate in your name to support you, and tag @usher_2020 (Instagram and Twitter) or @usher2020foundation (Facebook) so that we can support you, too.
Make the Challenge a Competition: If you want to take it up a notch, challenge others to do the same. Let’s see how they compare in a head-on 7-day challenge.
It’s easy to help. Watch here.
100% of all donations received will go to research and clinical trials, thanks to a generous sponsor who will pay all of our business expenses through December 2025.
We are asking you to give up something small, so that we can do something big!
How Else Can I Help?
Step ONE:
You can make a donation online or call 877-926-0859 for information on paying by check.
Help us spread the word. Challenge others on social media to Give It Up 4 Sight and tag us @usher_2020 (Instagram & Twitter) & @usher2020foundation (Facebook).
