Mrs. World Helps Fight Sight-Destroying Conditions

April Lufriu is no stranger to the fight to save sight.

After her sister was diagnosed  with a genetic disorder that robs vision and can lead to blindness, April Lufriu and her sister teamed up to start a walk in the Tampa Bay area that raises money to support sight-saving research. 

Later, Lufriu, who was raised in Tampa and lives in Lutz, was herself diagnosed with the same condition. Her two children were diagnosed the same day.  

Lufriu is reigning Mrs. World 2011 and was Mrs. America the year before, and she continues to find time to helm the Tampa VisionWalk in October, which raises money for Foundation Fighting Blindness, which supports sight-saving research, targetting retinal degenerative diseases.

Lufriu, 43, is the national foundation’s spokeswoman and the president of its Tampa Bay chapter. 

While generating support for the walk, Lufriu visited Tampa Bay Walmarts in October, dubbed “Save Your Vision Month” and talked to volunteers participating in the walk.

She recently took some time to answer some questions from Patch.

Patch: Tell me a little about your visit to local Walmarts. What did Walmart associates do to help fight blindness and vision impairing diseases and what was your impression of their efforts?

Lufriu: As part of the Foundation Fighting Blindness’ national Save Your Vision
Month campaign in October, associates from several Walmart stores in the
Tampa Bay area volunteered their time to walk on behalf of sight-saving
research and public education in their community. Through the Walmart
Foundation’s Volunteerism Always Pays program, associates can track
and submit the hours they volunteer, which helps generate grants for the
nonprofit.

In addition to walking on their own time throughout the month, some
Walmart associates also turned out for the Foundation Fighting Blindness’
annual Tampa Bay 5K VisionWalk, which I chaired. We raised over
$54,000 this year and had a great time! The funds go toward research into
preventions, treatments and cures for retinal degenerative diseases that affect
more than 10 million Americans.

Visiting local Walmart stores to recognize associates’ Save Your Vision
Month efforts and share my story was a wonderful experience. They were so
welcoming and enthusiastic about giving back.

Patch: How does your own disease impact your vision? How does it affect your
work and life? At what age were you diagnosed?

Lufriu: I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa* at age 40. Due to my late diagnosis, my vision loss will progress more slowly than those affected at an earlier age, like my children. I do experience very little night blindness, as well as I am not graceful going down steps because my depth perception is affected. However, I don't allow challenges in life to affect my life and work. Instead, I harness my adversities and use them as fuel to make me stronger.

*(retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetic retinal disease that progressively robs
vision and can lead to blindness. It’s characterized by night blindness and a
gradual loss of peripheral vision – like tunnel vision closing in.)

Patch: I understand your children have the same condition you do. How does that affect them and what extra consideration do you have to make for them as a mother?

Lufriu: My son Brandon is 13 and my daughter Savannah is 9. They were diagnosed with RP on the same day as me. Hence, it was a triple whammy for all of us back on Feb 1, 2010. As a mother, my hardest job is to prepare them for the future in dealing with vision loss. I have to learn to prepare for what is to come and that is not an easy task. Currently, my children are working with a
visual teacher at school once a week to teach them Braille and mobility skills
to use in the future. As of now, my children are doing well and they are
seeing well except for some small challenges. I feel blessed they are doing
well, and I pray for longevity in their sight being sustained for as long as
possible until a cure is found.

Patch: Why get involved in efforts to fight blindness? Why should others?

Lufriu: Initially, I got involved in fighting blindness because my sister is losing her eyesight to RP. Three years after establishing the Tampa Bay VisionWalk, my children and I were diagnosed with the same disease. The community we built truly helped me emotionally and mentally with our devastating news. Helping others fight for sight and giving them hope is priceless. There are no words that can truly express how rewarding it is to help someone in life one day see again.

Patch: Greatest single act of generosity you've seen in the fight against blindness and vision impairing diseases?

Lufriu: I have seen many acts of generosity during my reign traveling around the world. However, during one of my international visits I had the opportunity to spend time with the Blindness Organization in Danang, Vietnam. This is a place of employment and rehabilitation for the blind. One gentleman that had lost his vision due to a traumatic accident had prepared a handmade set of chopsticks for me. I was deeply touched that he personally made a special gift for me with his hands. This gift brought tears to my eyes. We could not communicate but the translator told me that he was so grateful for my time with them and for the work I was doing to help raise awareness for the blind community.

Patch: How has your community responded to your being named Mrs. World? Have any memories of support from the community?

Lufriu: It's funny when I see people that I personally know call me Mrs. World rather than April. I am tickled by this. One day at a local dry cleaners that I rarely visit, the attendant there recognized me and asked for an autograph. At that moment, I was grateful for the media outreach we have been striving for in my community and abroad to know that people are watching and reading about the Foundation Fighting Blindness and my mission to raise awareness. Also, during my visit to Vietnam I had the honor to have a press conference with all of the major newspapers. Shockingly, my personal story went viral throughout the country. I didn't realize the impact of my story until my last day in Vietnam. I only had two hours to shop for gifts for my kids, so I went shopping without my Mrs. World crown and banner, and while in the market, I was recognized. That was the first time I felt like a celebrity.

Do you know someone that Lutz Patch should feature? Post a comment below or email editor Sherri Lonon at sherri.lonon@patch.com.