Furthermore,
whatever gene creates RP managed to coincide with the
one that makes good people. Take Maverick Malech of Salinas,
for example. Despite being legally blind, he recently
competed in the Iron Man Triathlon in Hawaii, winning
his division.
Or
take my personal hero and cousin, Craig Brown of Carmel
Valley. He’s the drummer in numerous local bands,
and I’ll bet most of you have enjoyed his music
without realizing that on some nights he can’t see
the people dancing ten feet in front of him.
The
same heat that would melt most young men has forged his
character and his good humor like steel.
Craig
told me of a convention he attended for RP sufferers,
which concluded with a dinner - dance. "You’ve
never heard so many plates breaking," he said, laughing.
"Or seen a brighter dance floor."
He
said one young man rolled toilet paper from the bathroom
back to his table. "Now I’ll be able to find
it any time I want to," he explained.
The
RP cause is one that has been taken up by actors and AT&T
Pro-Am participants Kevin James and Ray Romano, as James’
sister suffers from the disease. Each year they host a
charity golf tournament and comedy show to benefit RP
research.
"It
really is uncanny how RP hits the best people," James
said. "It breaks your heart, and you just want to
help."
From
my experience, these folks would make my old writing teacher
proud. Seeing with their hearts is what they do best.
To
learn more about RP, please visit the Foundation Fighting
Blindness web site at www.blindness.com,
or call 800-683-5555.
Scott
Brown, Editor
of the Carmel Magazine
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