<div>My name is Jesse Young, and this August I'll be starting medical school. Before then, I'll be running the Carolina Reaper, A 31-Mile Race on July 18th to raise money for blinding retinal diseases.
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<div>Over the past two years, I've worked in ophthalmology research, primarily focused on diseases of the retina, with the Retina Consultants of America, the world's leading retina research team. During that time, I've had the privilege of meeting patients who face the daily challenges that come with vision loss and vision-threatening disease. Their experiences have given me a greater appreciation for both the importance of medical research and the impact that vision has on a person's quality of life.
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<div>I've seen firsthand how advances in medicine can make a meaningful difference. Treatments developed through years of research have helped many patients maintain their independence and continue doing the things they love. I've spoken with patients who once struggled to recognize the faces of loved ones, read a favorite book, or play catch with their grandchildren, only to regain those abilities because of treatments that would not exist without medical research. At the same time, I've learned that not every story has a perfect ending. For many retinal diseases, our best option is often to slow progression rather than restore lost vision, which is why continued research remains so important. 
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<div>On July 18th, I'll be running 31 miles, broken into 12 laps of 2.62 miles each. Each lap will be dedicated to a different retinal disease, and throughout the day I'll be sharing information about those conditions and the people affected by them.
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<div>My goal is to raise $5,000 for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a nonprofit organization that funds research aimed at preventing, treating, and curing blinding retinal diseases.
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<div>If you're able to contribute, any donation, regardless of size, is greatly appreciated. If not, sharing this post would mean a lot as well.
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<div>Thirty-one miles is a small challenge compared to what many patients living with vision-threatening diseases face every day. Thank you for your support and for helping raise awareness for a cause that has become very important to me. 
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Christine Kuehner

Henry Faulkenberry

Susan Wright

Nolan Busch

Jesse Alford

Michaela Ott

Elliott Ruoff

Robyn Young

Aaron Hibbert

Rory Young

Masen Lapiene

Eimile Quinn

Judy E Wright

Shemar Collins

Justin Adams

Noah Price

Jesse Young

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