The Eyes of Christmas: Top Stars Telecast 12 Hours of Holiday Music and
Memories for the Visually Impaired to Over 80 Million Homes on Multiple Cable
Networks
The 13th Annual 'Eyes Of Christmas' International Telecast Fighting Blindness
Features Over 50 Top Stars Including Garth Brooks, Sandra Bullock, Jay Leno,
Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman and Sting
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- For 12 days leading up to Christmas,
many top stars along with top athletes and our nation's governors, will record
audio greeting cards for the blind and visually impaired. The 13th Annual
"Eyes of Christmas" presentations are being telecast via multiple cable and
satellite networks to over 80 million homes. Stars include Celine Dion,
Whitney Houston, Garth Brooks, Reba McIntyre, Sandra Bullock, Charlton Heston,
Tom Hanks, Drew Barrymore, Nicole Kidman, Pierce Brosnan, Jay Leno, Bob Costas
and Natalie Cole. Music performances will be featured by Sting, U2, Christina
Aguilera, Brian McKnight, Jon Bon Jovi,
Kenny G, Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, The Blind Boys of Alabama and Jose
Feliciano.
Former President Bush begins the broadcasts with a heartwarming
description of the classic, "It's A Wonderful Life" on NBC, with repeat
airings the week of December 17. Mr. Bush's narration is delivered through
TheatreVision(TM), which adds a description of the action and scene to the
actors' dialogue, enabling the blind to enjoy the film along with the sighted.
Special broadcasts will air throughout the holidays on the Dish, PAX and
ION Networks, as well as on independent stations in top US markets (check your
local listings for dates and times). This year's "Eyes of Christmas" telecast
will culminate with a special Christmas Eve airing of the Charles Dickens'
favorite, "Scrooge," between midnight and 8 a.m., Christmas morning.
"The Eyes of Christmas" benefits RP International, the nation's leading
non-profit fighting RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) and other degenerative eye
diseases. Founder Helen Harris also encourages sighted viewers to tune into
"The Eyes of Christmas" broadcast to take the "traveling eye test," which
enables early diagnosis and treatment of disorders. This year's telecast
celebrates amazing, breakthroughs in genetic and cell-transplant therapies,
which hold great promise of restoring vision to victims of degenerative eye
diseases. This is "the greatest Christmas gift of all," says Harris.
Information on the live podcast, purchase of the Eyes of Christmas CD,
donations and RP International's efforts are available at RP International's
websites http://www.eyesofchristmas.org and http://www.rpinternational.org or
by calling, 1-800-FIGHT-RP.
SOURCE Retinitis Pigmentosa International
Mary Ellen Sanders of Retinitis Pigmentosa International, +1-818-992-0631
