For The Love Of Football
Donation protected
Since birth, I have been losing my eyesight to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). At 17, I was told by doctors that I would be completely blind by 30 at an absolute maximum. While I still had sight, I decided to start chasing a dream. You can read all about it and see the photos at http://www.jamesgilliard.com/the-dream.php .
Last week, at almost 36, I was told two things by an eye doctor - one was the confirmation that I am legally blind at this point and the other being that the progression speed is increasing in the better eye (from an average of -12 / year to an average of -24 / year over 5 year stretches). After having the time to digest all of that, both short-term and long-term, I decided to put together a goFundMe page.
Football has always a love of mine. However, I let my vision dictate what I did regarding it. That is something that I'll always regret, and I can't change the past. But, now knowing where things stand, I want to geth as much of it in before my sight decreases to the point that I can't play it.
Since 2007, in addition to playing flag football in the fall, I have attended Football Fantasy Camps at Marshall, Ole Miss and Clemson. In 2013, there wasn't money for any, and at this point there won't be any for 2016 either, due to current financial issues.
So I am asking for your help and generosity to make at least one FFC experience happen in 2016. The $12,500 goal would cover a total of 5 (listed below). While I know that's a HUGE total and HUGE goal, I am willing to dream big since I don't know when that sight cut-off will happen.
If the entire goal is reached, it will pay for transportation plus camp costs for:
201 Ole Miss Football Fantasy Camp, 2016 Pittsburgh Steelers Football Fantasy Camp, 2016 Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp, 2016 Kansas City Chiefs Football Fantasy Camp & 2016 Clemson Football Fantasy Camp.
If the full goal is not reached, then I will use the funds raised to attend as many as possible.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and please share this with your family and friends on social media!
James Gilliard
Last week, at almost 36, I was told two things by an eye doctor - one was the confirmation that I am legally blind at this point and the other being that the progression speed is increasing in the better eye (from an average of -12 / year to an average of -24 / year over 5 year stretches). After having the time to digest all of that, both short-term and long-term, I decided to put together a goFundMe page.
Football has always a love of mine. However, I let my vision dictate what I did regarding it. That is something that I'll always regret, and I can't change the past. But, now knowing where things stand, I want to geth as much of it in before my sight decreases to the point that I can't play it.
Since 2007, in addition to playing flag football in the fall, I have attended Football Fantasy Camps at Marshall, Ole Miss and Clemson. In 2013, there wasn't money for any, and at this point there won't be any for 2016 either, due to current financial issues.
So I am asking for your help and generosity to make at least one FFC experience happen in 2016. The $12,500 goal would cover a total of 5 (listed below). While I know that's a HUGE total and HUGE goal, I am willing to dream big since I don't know when that sight cut-off will happen.
If the entire goal is reached, it will pay for transportation plus camp costs for:
201 Ole Miss Football Fantasy Camp, 2016 Pittsburgh Steelers Football Fantasy Camp, 2016 Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp, 2016 Kansas City Chiefs Football Fantasy Camp & 2016 Clemson Football Fantasy Camp.
If the full goal is not reached, then I will use the funds raised to attend as many as possible.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and please share this with your family and friends on social media!
James Gilliard
Organizer
James Gilliard
Organizer
Naperville, IL
