SeeShore Fest to raise funds, awareness for vision loss
Heather Napolitano realized she was losing her vision while watching a basketball game in 2013. After more than two years with no conclusion as to why she was losing her vision, Napolitano was finally diagnosed with capillary non-perfusion, a condition that occurs when blood stops flowing to certain parts of the retina.
“I mainly use my peripheral vision to get around,” she said. “I have a small portion of central vision remaining in my right eye. I focus on the vision I have remaining, not what I have lost.”
Napolitano and her family decided to launch SeeShore Fest to raise money to fund research into vision loss and build awareness of the disorder. This year’s event is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 28, at The Starboard in Dewey Beach.
“I stay positive that cures will one day be found and my vision loss will stop, or better yet, what I’ve lost will be restored,” she said. “The SeeShore Fest gives us hope and keeps us fighting!”
To date, SeeShore Fest has raised $62,500 for the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the William Feinbloom Center at the Philadelphia Eye Institute. In addition to raising funds for research, the event also aims to build awareness for more than 1 million Americans affected by vision-robbing retinal diseases, Napolitano said.
“The foundation continues to fund thousands of research studies in efforts to one day cure blindness, while the eye institute provides instruments to help the visually impaired live a better life until that day comes,” she said. “We are very excited to be able to support these two incredible initiatives.”
Napolitano said the event is fun for the whole family, and she thanked Starboard owner Steve “Monty” Montgomery for his support.
“The famous Punch Board returns where there’s a winner every time,” she said. “There will be four boards this year, with each one containing 60 punches. Prizes range from local business merchandise and gift cards to electronics and vacation getaways. There’s also raffles where you could walk away with prizes ranging from $250 to $5,000!”
