PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Nearly 200 people gathered in Payson Park in Portland Sunday morning for a special cause, and for one USM student, the event was particularly meaningful.
On Friday, we shared with you Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette's story. He was born with Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that is the leading cause of deaf blindness.
Dylan has a genetic condition which causes gradual degeneration of the retina, and has moderate hearing loss, but he's been working hard with his mother raising money and awareness to find a cure for blindness.
The Second Annual Maine Visionwalk in Payson Park Sunday was desiged to raise money for research, treatment, and cures for retinal degenerative diseases.
"It is really important that people understand that blind people are just people too. We want all the same things in life, and ideally though, we would like to find a cure for blindness so we can just do everything we want to do and contribute to the world just as much as anyone else can, so that's what finding a cure for blindness is all about. That's the ultimate goal," Hedtler-Gaudette said.
Organizers say this year's Visionwalk raised $26,000 to go towards finding a cure for retinal degenerative diseases.
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