Dancers dancing to help Sofias sight

Sofia Lampson

image credit: courtesy Annette Lampson

Lifes sunny side shines through Sofia Lampson, especially when shes Highland dancing.

Whenever I hear the music, my legs want to dance, said the Celtic Rhythm student ready for Saturdays big Cowichan Theatre recital. I like dance because its fast; I like doing fast things, and moving.

But seeing motion and more isnt easy for the energetic eight-year-old getting costly treatments for degenerative retinitis pigmentosa often called RP, or tunnel vision.

So her family and dance school are asking Cowichanians to help fund Lampsons expensive treatments.

A silent-auction Fundraiser For Sofias Sight happens after Saturdays 7 p.m. show. Treatments could cost $15,000 in the next few years. The Lampsons find them effective, but they are not endorsed by the Canadian medical establishment and not covered by B.C.s health care.

Mainstream medicine hasnt any possibility of curing it, said Lampsons mom, Annette. The only thing they can do is monitor how its progressing. A specialist in Victoria said they can do something with genetic medicine, but thats years down the road.

However, the Lampsons heard of treatments by Chinese-medicine practitioner Dr. Weidong Yu of Vancouvers Wellspring Clinic.

He specializes in RP. People come from all over the world because Dr. Yu helps them so much, said Annette, noting acupuncture could be a future option. He thinks he can cure Sofia, so she has full vision in two years.

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Dancers dancing to help Sofias sight