Local beauty queen fights blindness for her visually impaired kids

TAMPA - As the reigning Mrs. America, April Lufriu wears her crown proudly, but more important than her crown is her mission to raise funds and raise awareness for an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Her mission is very personal because she and her two children have been diagnosed with this vision robbing disease. They are not alone, as more than 10 million Americans are affected by RP and other retinal diseases.

April is hoping that the community will join her and hundreds of other supporters next Saturday, November 19th at the 4th Annual Tampa Bay Vision Walk at Al Lopez Park. The 5K walkathon aims to raise $40,000 for research that will lead to preventions, treatments and cures for retinal degenerative diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration.

Hundreds of walkers are expected at this free, family-friendly VisionWalk, which will also include children's activities, refreshments, music and more. Dogs and strollers are welcome on the 3.1-mile course.

Lufriu will represent the United States in the international Mrs. World pageant in Orlando this December.

For more information about the walk visit:

www.FightBlindness.org/TampaBayVisionWalk