Blind Malvern Resident Will Rappel 10 Stories To Raise Cash

MALVERN, PA — A Malvern resident who is legally blind will dress as Lady Liberty and rappel down 10 stories to raise funds for VisionCorps, the nonprofit that helped her learn to live independently when she lost her eyesight.

Natanya Sortland lost her vision in 2014, but she is ready to rappel 10 stories in support of Eye Drop 2021, VisionCorps’ signature fundraiser.

Sortland and other participants rappel 120’ from the roof to the ground, after committing to a fundraising minimum, VisionCorps explained in a news release.

Sortland’s vision was damaged after she suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a condition that often results in death or very significant impairments. Sortland said she is looking forward to going over the edge. VisionCorps, she said, gave Sortland “my life back” by teaching her how to adapt to her loss of vision and live independently.

Sortland, who plans to wear a Lady Liberty costume, said she wants to help raise money so others with vision loss can learn to live independently.

VisionCorps’ Eye Drop event will be held July 9 at the Holiday Inn Lancaster, N. Chestnut and N. Queen streets.

There are still open spots to join and rappel. About 100 rappelers — blind and sighted — are registered to support neighbors who are blind or have low vision in Adams, Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. All proceeds help fund VisionCorps’ prevention, rehabilitation, and employment services. The team's page is here.

VisionCorps is a nonprofit with the goal of empowering people who are blind or vision impaired to attain independence by providing them with the tools and training, including employment, to empower them.

The organization serves almost 2,000 individuals with rehabilitation services in Lancaster, Lebanon, Chester, York and Adams counties. VisionCorps’ prevention services include KidSight, which screens more than 8,000 children annually for vision loss.

For more general information on Eye Drop 2021 go here.

Natanya Sortland’s Eye Drop fundraising page is here.

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