Non-profit funding sight-saving research for children
Our goal is to advance therapies for pediatric inherited retinal diseases. Our current target: we are fundraising for rare disease research and gene-agnostic therapies for childhood blindness.
You can make an impact on saving childhood eyesight by entering our giveaway fundraisers.
Enter for your chance to Build Your Own Adventure Van: We already built out the outside of a 170" WB AWD Sprinter, and you get an extra $125,000 custom build budget to use with Rossmönster Vans, plus $50,000 cash! Alternatively, the winner may select a $150,000 cash-only option.
LEARN MOREEnter the 1989 Toyota FJ62 Restomod Sweepstakes for your chance to win a beautifully restored and upgraded classic Land Cruiser, plus $25,000 cash! Or choose the $100,000 cash-only alternative. All proceeds support A Race Against Blindness and the fight to end blindness.
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Enter the Miles, Magic & Mochas #2 Sweepstakes for your chance to win a 2026 Toyota Sienna Platinum, a $20,000 Disney vacation award, Starbucks for a Year, plus $30,000 cash! Or choose the $100,000 cash-only alternative. Every entry supports A Race Against Blindness and the fight to end blindness.
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Enter for your chance to win the Ultimate Adventure Package: a 2026 Entegra Esteem XL Super C motorhome + 2026 Polaris trailer + $100,000 cash! Every entry helps support A Race Against Blindness and the search for cures to blindness!
VIEW DETAILSHow our fundraisers work
Learn how you can make an impact on sight-saving research and have a chance to win a life-changing prize.
Our impact
$6.1M
granted to sight-saving research as of October 2026, from giveaway fundraisers and direct donations. Every mile below was paid for by entries like yours.
To Axovia Therapeutics, to move a gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa caused by BBS1 toward a clinical trial.
Oct 2024Second Axovia grant: GLP toxicology, manufacturing, and the regulatory work needed before a trial could open.
Dec 2024Third Axovia grant, bringing AXV-101 funding to $4M; the UK trial application was cleared in Q3 2025.
Sep 2025Closed the remaining funding gap; RAB's total funding for AXV-101 reaches $5.1M, from lab to first patient.
Jan 2026With Foundation Fighting Blindness: $775,000 to the RD Fund for gene-agnostic research, matched dollar-for-dollar by the Gund Foundation Challenge, and $225,000 to Dr. Thomas Mendel at Ohio State.
Jun 2026Researchers worldwide can now apply for RAB funding through the Grants Portal.
Aug 2026Amounts and dates come from our grant records and update when a new grant is announced. Each grant links to its announcement where available.
About us
It isn't a race we run. It's a race against time. Kristina and Stephen Johnston founded A Race Against Blindness after their son Luke was diagnosed with Bardet-Biedl syndrome, a rare genetic condition that is slowly taking his sight. What began as a race to fund one gene therapy for one gene has grown into funding research across inherited retinal diseases, a grants program for scientists, and an education hub for families.
No treatment existed for RP caused by BBS1. We decided to fund one.
Our family became the first donor, donating our first prize: the 2023 Adventure Van giveaway fundraiser that started it all.
To Axovia Therapeutics for AXV-101, a gene therapy for RP caused by BBS1.
A total of $5.1M in grant support from RAB made this trial initiation possible.
New $1M grant to gene-agnostic clinical research in partnership with Foundation Fighting Blindness.
Luke’s story of seeing the world before losing more vision was featured on GMA, helping propel our mission to the national level.
Winner's circle
Every review you see here is collected and verified by Trustpilot, not by us. We can't edit them, hide them, or pick the order.
We show every star rating, one through five, because that's what transparency means.
Great cause and excellent prizes!
Read on Trustpilot (review by Nancy)Helping humanity
Read on Trustpilot (review by AC)Raising awareness - I love that they are raising awareness and money for this. As a teenager, I assisted my neighbor with RP to type up a large font cookbook. She was a young, driven mother who wanted to be there for her kids and be a support to her community handling blindness. The ease of being able to donate to this cause was successful, and I love that I can contribute to the research.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Ashley Carroll)The videos were very informative and the info on your nonprofit was thorough. It was easy to buy tickets as well. So all in all a great website and advertising.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Deborah Bone-List)Great communication!
Read on Trustpilot (review by Amanda J.)Wonderful cause and an inspiring mission! I’m proud to support Race Against Blindness and the important work they’re doing. Every contribution can help make a difference. Highly recommend supporting this organization!
Read on Trustpilot (review by Faasua Tanielu)I appreciate the goal of the company and am grateful for the research they do
Read on Trustpilot (review by Julie L)its been setup to easily donate to a great cause. the tax forms are set quickly albeit I won't most likely use them. it appears to be a safe way view document. The website is easy to navigate. I am glad to be part of the cure as I know just how hard it is to deal with the unknowns.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Ted Reckell)This is for a wonderful cause. There is not one like it. We take our sight for granted and for a child that suffers from this is unimaginable to me. God Bless you for starting this fundraiser. Such a great cause!
Read on Trustpilot (review by Jennifer Campbell)I want to do a non profit like y’all and realize it must be so fulfilling to do this type of work
Read on Trustpilot (review by Steven Tran)I like watching the live stream of winner notifications. There are life-changing prizes in this raffle for life-changing research to prevent blindness; I get a good feeling in my soul.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Jeffrey Carpenter)Very excited to participate in this very worthwhile organization.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Jimmy Lee)When we all give alittle, we can make a big difference. Any donation can be someone's saving grace. Spead hope when you can and are able and may the same be done for you when you most need it.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Aaron Mecalco)Love the mission. How beautiful the world is through a child’s eyes.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Kenneth Chabot)Great organization! Doing great work helping people.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Phillip McDonald)I feel like I am making a difference when I enter these raffles because we are updated on the progress of the research and we get information on the eye disease that their son has.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Kathryn Fenstemaker)This seems to be a really worthwhile charitable endeavor. The language you use is down to earth and makes me believe your project is real and not a scam. I like your openness and transparency. Good luck to you and I hope your project makes a difference.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Beverly Reid)I don't like writing out reviews. But here I am being forced to otherwise a 5 star experience
Read on Trustpilot (review by Andrew Kass)I Love this company and their giveaways. It feels good knowing that even if I don't get the winner call, that I still get to help fund sight saving research. God Bless You all! 🙏
Read on Trustpilot (review by Denny Kitch)The experience was great because of the cause that we know we are contributing to and also the process to apply to the rage against blindness is easy and it's a great value for money and hope for a solution to blindness
Read on Trustpilot (review by Starlean Sykes)I really like the prizes offered
Read on Trustpilot (review by Brian Smith)Great organization . While the prizes are wonderful , the support of the mission is greater . Compared to other raffles, this one is clear, transparent, has integrity and is managed with a personal touch . I have strongly support A Race Against Blindness.
Read on Trustpilot (review by David )The ease of entry was easy. It's great to see our dollars spent for a great cause. God bless.
Read on Trustpilot (review by MK)What a great organization that does so much in an overlooked area of childhood healthcare. Keep up the good work.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Christopher Couture)Reviews come from real donors and supporters who entered a fundraiser or had a direct interaction with our team, each one verified by Trustpilot.
Read all reviews on TrustpilotGrant funding updates
Blindness Education Resources
As a family-run nonprofit and parents of a child facing blindness, we know how it felt when we got the diagnosis and didn't know where to begin. The resources were limited, and we felt alone. This education hub is here to help change that.
Open the Education Hub
RAB educational series
Blindness Education Podcasts with Co-Founder Dr. Steve Johnston
An introduction to the free clinical trial hub for inherited retinal diseases.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)
An overview of vision loss treatment topics, including gene therapy and optogenetics.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)
A look at how viral vectors deliver missing genes in retinal gene therapy.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)For information only. Discuss clinical trial information with your retina specialist.
We founded the nonprofit when we found out our son has a rare genetic condition and is slowly going blind. But that really only scratches the surface in terms of our motivation. Since learning of Luke's diagnosis, we have become strongly connected to the rare-diseases community. While rare diseases are actually not unusual, with more than 7,000 diseases classified as rare, each one individually often affects only a small number of people. Thus many rare diseases don't receive enough attention and resources to help fund research for adequate treatments or even possible cures.
New fundraisers, winners, and grant news, about twice a month. Questions? The Help Center is our front door.
Visit the Help Center
