[ont.events] Attn. Canadians - Ride for Sight/Retinitis Pigmentosa

rbutterworth@watrose.UUCP (Ray Butterworth) (05/10/84)

[Note: the following is being posted  for  watrose!watbun!kgdykes,  do
not send mail to watrose!rbutterworth - thankyou]

[We need a can.events, can.cycle and can.med....]

     Thousands  of  Canadians coast to coast suffer loss of sight from
RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA.  It's a progressive condition which  results  in
loss of sight.  At the moment, there is no cure, but progress is being
made.  The first symptom is often night blindness,  followed  by  nar-
rowing  of  side vision until the patient has what we call "tunnel vi-
sion".  Eventually, in most instances, leading to total blindness.  It
is an inhereted disease, transmitted by a gene which may be recessive,
dominant or X-linked.  It is  estimated  that  one  persion  in  every
eighty  carries  the  gene for recessive RP.  This means it can strike
without warning in a family with no previous history of eye diseases.

     And you can help generate the money needed for research.

     If you are a motorcyclist, participate in the NATIONAL  RIDE  FOR
SIGHT  (1984)  on  June 9-10.  This event was started in Ontario eight
years ago and went national last year.  The format is basically:
     1) Collect donations,
     2) on June 9/84 ride your motorcycle to  a  specified  provincial
     area,
     3) hand in the money and enjoy a weekend of  camping,  shows  and
     contests.

     GET INVOLVED!

     If  you  are  not a motorcyclist, or cannot directly participate,
you may make a donation through a local  participant  or  directly  to
the:
     Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation of Canada
     Ride for Sight
     411-185 Spadina Crescent, Suite 115,
     Toronto, Ontario
     M5T 2C6
     (416) 598-4951

     Forms  are  available at local dealers, motorcycle touring clubs,
etc.  For more information or "who to call locally", contact the above
address.

     For simple questions or names/numbers of Ontario contacts, or the
Ontario Ride Destination, send net-mail to:
               watrose!watbun!kgdykes  (Ken Dykes)

The National Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation of Canada is a Canadian
registered charitable organization.  Registration #0425769-13-13
Dept. of National Revenue.