How would you like to be 25 years old, with a budding career in photography and freelance graphic design?<\/p>\n
Spare a thought for Claudia Gouws, a young woman who studied both graphic design and photography, only to be told that she is slowly going blind.<\/p>
Essentially, Claudia has been diagnosed with stargardt macular dystrophy, an eye disease for which there is no cure.<\/p>\n
Diagnosed at 22, she has lived with this disease for three years.<\/p>
First, she had to stop driving and then, after landing a job at an international signage company, in 2012, by February 2013 she had to give up work as the flashes of colour disrupted her work.<\/p>\n
Now, at 25, Claudia is struggling to read, write, type and work.<\/p>\n
There is hope on the horizon, however: a genetic replacement injection therapy.<\/p>\n
Claudia has been for the genetic testing and Retina South Africa will inform her when the treatment is available, however, it could be a while until she can receive this treatment.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Claudia will only be able to take supplements to try to, hopefully, slow the disease.<\/p>\n
Germiston City Sports Club and The Weedwackers Social Golf Club, after the success of their fund-raising efforts, last year, have decided to host the third annual fund-raiser for a cause.<\/p>\n
They are putting together a golf day to help Claudia to achieve the treatment she requires.<\/p>\n
This may entail a trip to Brazil for stem cell therapy which is performed only by a Brazilian specialist.<\/p>\n
The golf day is to be held at the Germiston Country Club on October 28 and the tee off time is 11am.<\/p>\n
A prize-giving ceremony will be held at 6pm.<\/p>\n
There are different entry fees per player or per fourball.<\/p>\n
For more information contact the organiser, Peter Oliver, on 076 431 2391, or Noel Vickers on 082 412 7469.<\/p>\n