Doreen Powles legacy will impact people around the world as research discoveries transform lives by leading to treatments that restore sight. Thank you, Doreen, for your generosity, said Doug Earle, President and CEO, Fighting Blindness Canada.

Fighting Blindness Canada said they are grateful for the legacy gift of $600,000 by Banff resident, the late Doreen Marjorie Powles to fight blindness.

The announcement was made in Banff at the annual meeting of the Canadian Retina Society where Canadas retina specialists have gathered to share the latest in research and new treatments.

Fighting Blindness Canada is honoured to announce that Dr. Elizabeth M Simpson at the University of British Columbia is the recipient of the Doreen Powles Award to End Blindness for her project entitled Using gene therapy to Treat Congenital Blindness.

Doreen Powles spent her life in Banff where she lived with a blinding eye disease called congenital blindness. Her blindness was present at birth with reduced ability to detect light and colour, severe nearsightedness and involuntary movements of the eye.

Robert Smyth, executor of Doreen Powles estate said, Doreen was an only child. She left her entire estate to finance eye research, providing scholarships for aspiring researchers and helping people living with blindness. She would be excited by Fighting Blindness Canadas ground-breaking research to restore sight.

G.P. Powles, her father, was a partner in Hornibrook and Powles Insurance in Banff and a Rotarian.

Mr. Powles searched the world at great expense to find a cure for his daughters blindness without success.

Doreen Marjorie Powles graduated in 1952 from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts.

Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) is Canadas leading private funder of vision research. Over our 45-year history, we have invested over $40 million to support vision research and education across Canada with over 200 research grants that have led to over 600 new discoveries in areas such as stem cell research, neuroprotective therapies, technological developments, pharmaceuticals, and gene therapies.

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Banff resident leaves $600,000 legacy to fight blindness - The Crag and Canyon