frontlines

Andover student to fight blindness at May 11 VisionWalk.

Jackie Headapohl
I Managing Editor

ameron Peres, 16, a junior at Andover High
School in Bloomfield Township, plays basket-
ball and varsity tennis. He is a ranked player in
USTA Tennis. He plays the violin in his school's symphony
orchestra, was selected for the National Honor Society
and is an active member in Temple Israel's youth group,
YFTI. But perhaps his most important role at the moment
is as committee member for the Eastern Michigan 5K
VisionWalk benefiting the Foundation Fighting Blindness
on Saturday, May 11, at Kensington Metropark in Milford.
Cameron was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degen-
erative eye disease that causes night blindness and a progres-
sive loss of peripheral vision, when he was only 18 months old.
"We noticed he could not see in the dark:' said his mother,
Michelle Peres. "We took him to numerous specialists before
he was diagnosed:'
Cameron's condition hasn't slowed him down. He's attended
overnight camp at Camp Tamarack for seven years, despite not
being able to see in the dark. He has plans to study pre-med in
college and says he has high hopes that he won't lose his vision.
"Every year, I lose a small amount of vision," he says. "But I
believe that with enough research, doctors will be able to find a
way to save my retina:'
Cameron has been participating in VisionWalk "for all of his
life" with his team "Emotion:' which includes mom Michelle,
dad Ed, brother Kyle, supportive grandparents Carole and
Richard Walker and Sally and Ed Peres, along with many sup-
portive friends and family. Back in seventh grade, Cameron
made his first T-shirts for the cause, and over the years has
raised several thousand dollars in the fight against blindness.
The goal for this year's Eastern Michigan 5K VisionWalk is
to raise $93,000 to support promising gene therapy, stem cell-

C

JN CONTENTS

Cameron Peres and teammates Illyse Rogovein, Jordyn
Hack and Michael Langwald

based and pharmaceutical research that could save and even
restore sight. Blinding retinal degenerative diseases like reti-
nitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration and Usher syndrome
affect more than 10 million Americans, but the Foundation
Fighting Blindness is funding cutting-edge studies toward pre-
vention, treatments and cures.
"We have so much hope, thanks to the exciting clinical trials
under way for retinal diseases:' Michelle says. "Raising aware-
ness and funds for research through the VisionWalk is our way
to help move the needle forward:'
Cameron adds, "I am walking so that I can see in the dark
again and support others who have the same condition as me:'
To help Cameron move the needle, visit www.
FightBlindness.org/goto/Cameron_Peres to support his team
by making a donation or registering to walk with him.
The walk begins at 10:30 a.m.; registration begins at 9. The
family-friendly event also includes activities for children, a
bounce house, refreshments, entertainment and more.

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April 25-May 1, 2013 I 15-21 Iyar 5773 I Vol. CXLIII, No. 12

Around Town
26
Arts/Entertainment
73
Calendar
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69
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Israel. 5, 8, 49, 56, 57, 71, 74
Jewish@ledu
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Jews in the Digital Age.. 97
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Torah Portion
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World
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Columnist

Danny Raskin

Shabbat Lights

Shabbat: Friday, April 26, 8:09 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, April 27, 9:15 p.m.

Lag b'Omer: Sunday, April 28

Shabbat: Friday, May 3, 8:17 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, May 4, 9:24 p.m.

Times are according to the Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah calendar.

Andrea Teitel had a little more
time on her hands as her children
grew older, so she looked around
the community for a place to
become involved.
"I thought to myself that this was
the time I wanted to do something
outside my home, other than my
work, and now was the time to give
back," Andrea said. "What I wanted
was someplace where I could have
a direct effect, and really do some
good for others."
After almost a year on the
Hebrew Free Loan Advisory
Committee, Andrea feels she found
her niche.
"I'm a Certified Registered Nurse
Anesthetist, so I'm very comfortable
talking and working with people. In
my profession, I have a very short
window in which to build a relation-
ship and have someone trust me
before we go to into surgery. Those
skills help me at HFL, when we
interview potential borrowers, put
them at ease, and listen to their
needs," Andrea said.
"I'm enthusiastic about what HFL
accomplishes," Andrea said. "It's
direct, impactful, and very empow-
ering for the people who come our
way, and it's exactly what is needed
in our community."

Click. Call. Give Novi
www.hfldetroit.org
248.723.8184

Health. A fresh start.
A good education.
The next great business idea.

Hebrew Free Loan gives interest-
free loans to members of our
community for a variety of
personal and small business
needs. HFL loans are funded
entirely through community
donations which continually
recycle to others, generating
many times the original value
to help maintain the lives of
local Jews.

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April 25 • 2013

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