We’re Funding Sight-Saving Clinical Trials to Treat Childhood Blindness.
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.
Current Fundraisers
You can make an impact on saving childhood eyesight by entering our giveaway fundraisers.
Build Your Own Dream Van (BYOVan #3)
170" WB AWD Sprinter + $125,000 custom build budget with Rossmönster Vans + $50,000 cash
VIEW DETAILSHow our fundraisers work
Built on trust and transparency
Learn how you can make an impact on sight-saving research and have a chance to win a life-changing prize.
- Donate to support sight-saving researchEntries are automatically captured and can be seen in your Donor Portal.
- Winner selection by third-party adminWe aren't involved in the winner selection process, to ensure fairness and compliance.
- Winner livestream announcementWe announce all winners live on social media. See our past winner calls!
- It's time for winner day!For vehicle prizes, we fly the winner to Arizona to get the keys, a free-and-clear title, and the prize cash.
What you can check for yourself
- Registered 501(c)(3), EIN 92-2174042Exempt under Section 501(c)(3); look us up on the IRS and Candid.
- 19,100+ verified reviews on Trustpilot and GoogleRated 4.9 Excellent. Read what past entrants and winners say.
- Registered and bonded sweepstakesEligibility, all methods of entry, and start and end dates are published before every fundraiser.
- Donor PortalCheck your entries for any fundraiser you've joined.
Our impact
Sight-saving research funded
$6.1M
granted to sight-saving research as of November 2026, from giveaway fundraisers and direct donations. Every mile below was paid for by entries like yours.
- $1MFirst grant: AXV-101 gene therapy for BBS1
To Axovia Therapeutics, to move a gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa caused by BBS1 toward a clinical trial.
Oct 2024 - $2MManufacturing and safety studies
Second Axovia grant: GLP toxicology, manufacturing, and the regulatory work needed before a trial could open.
Dec 2024 · announced Feb 2025 - $1MClinical trial authorization
Third Axovia grant, bringing AXV-101 funding to $4M; the UK trial application was cleared in Q3 2025.
Sep 2025 - $1.1MTrial fully funded
Closed the remaining funding gap; RAB's total funding for AXV-101 reaches $5.1M, from lab to first patient.
Dec 2025 · announced Jan 2026 - $1MGene-agnostic research
With 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 2026 - OpenResearch Grants Program
Researchers worldwide can now apply for RAB funding through the Grants Portal.
Aug 2026
Amounts 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
We were told there was nothing we could do.
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.
- 2020Luke's diagnosis, and a decision
No treatment existed for RP caused by BBS1. We decided to fund one.
- 2023A Race Against Blindness is founded
Our family became the first donor, donating our first prize: the 2023 Adventure Van giveaway fundraiser that started it all.
- 2024First $1 million grant
To Axovia Therapeutics for AXV-101, a gene therapy for RP caused by BBS1.
- 2026Initiation of the AXV-101 gene therapy clinical trial
A total of $5.1M in grant support from RAB made this trial initiation possible.
- 2026Expanding our impact
New $1M grant to gene-agnostic clinical research in partnership with Foundation Fighting Blindness.
See our Feature on Good Morning America!
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
Recent winners
Final Chance F150 Raptor + Explorer ST
- Ended
- October 3, 2026
- Winner
- Todd H. from Iowa
2nd Chance Rossmonster Baja Trail LX
- Ended
- September 14, 2026
- Winner
- Danette, H from Iowa
Thor RV + Bronco + $50k cash
- Ended
- September 5, 2026
- Winner
- Dan M from CO
Don't take our word for it. Take theirs.
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.
They are doing amazing work!
They are doing amazing work!
Read on Trustpilot (review by sharon)An exciting way to donate to a good…
An exciting way to donate to a good cause. Great giveaways and fun online events to announce winner. Looking forward to my call one of these days;)
Read on Trustpilot (review by Denise G.Mustoe)Wonderful Organization
This is a wonderful cause to put your money behind. I happily donate to find a solution to help these poor kids.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Phil Holden)
I was happy to buy a chance for the…
I was happy to buy a chance for the nice truck and camper knowing if I lost I was helping a worthwhile cause. Thanks for helping others .
Read on Trustpilot (review by Gary Mott)I love being a part of a movement which…
I love being a part of a movement which helps children with such debilitating experiences and to be able to be sure my donation goes to where it's supposed to go. Nothing better than honesty in fundraising, especially for children.
Read on Trustpilot (review by James Bearfield)With my own sister losing her eyesight…
With my own sister losing her eyesight through degenerative disease, this is a cause that hits too close to home. Is nice to be able to help in such an exciting way.
Read on Trustpilot (review by sallyfiske)I appreciate this orginization!
I appreciate this orginization!
Read on Trustpilot (review by Robert Furman)Such a great cause I’m willing to donate to!
I am happy to donate to these fundraisers. I love the transparency with this group and the mission is the best part.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Lauren Delaney)This is one of the easier sweepstakes…
This is one of the easier sweepstakes to understand their cause and how easy it is to enter the drawing. It appears to be very trustworthy from what I've read. Thank you to race against blindness organization. Kind of regards , Stephen
Read on Trustpilot (review by Stephen Marrone)Worthwhile cause!!
Great deal for the money donated, and it goes to a great cause! These parents should be commended for the lengths that they've gone to, to try and find a cure for their sons condition.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Jack)Love giving to a great cause and it's…
Love giving to a great cause and it's just fun playing raffles Lol
Read on Trustpilot (review by JimHorn)Great cause to donate for
Great cause to donate for, hope enough money is raised to help Luke; also the giveaways are amazing, so two birds with one stone.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Chris)Great cause!
Great cause! My family has a need for eye disease solutions.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Jane)I think it’s amazing what you do for…
I think it’s amazing what you do for people.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Ashley Chavez)It feels good to do whatever you can to…
It feels good to do whatever you can to help Blindness. This web site made since to me and it was easy to do.
Read on Trustpilot (review by customer)A great cause
This company does great things for researching causes and treatments for blindness.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Samantha S)I believe that donating to this cause…
I believe that donating to this cause is so rewarding. Knowing that the money is used for research into blindness makes it great
Read on Trustpilot (review by Beverly Laraway)The consistent communication in a…
The consistent communication in a timely fashion is what sets this organization up for success. I love the content and education that they provide also. Speaking as a person with retina disease I feel like supporting this endeavor is personal.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Sharyl)This organization raises money
This organization raises money, a lot of money 💰, for a cause near and dear to me. They do it by partnering with great companies that provide amazing items to raffle off.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Risa Shapiro)World Healthcare
Easy and friendly reminders of the pace of the Sweepstakes. Plus, they are raising big $$ for world health. I realize that this is a specific cause, childhood blindness cures, but whenever we can cure anything, it helps everything!
Read on Trustpilot (review by Lori Baker)Like the transparency
Like the transparency, prizes and mission.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Chris- Law Enforcement Officer)Awesome fundraiser!!
Awesome fundraiser!!
Read on Trustpilot (review by Brenda Fagan)The donation process is very easy.
The donation process is very easy.
Read on Trustpilot (review by Heather Holston)Always easy to navigate
Always easy to navigate. Most importantly it’s so so easy to purchase the raffle tickets! So easy, I keep coming back.
Read on Trustpilot (review by psm)
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
The impact you made possible
Blindness Education Resources
Are you looking for education or resources for blindness?
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 HubWhere would you like to start?
- We just got a diagnosisA calm place to begin, with the next steps in order.
- I'm looking for a clinical trialStudies for inherited retinal diseases, by phase and status.
- I'm raising a child with an IRDSchool, support, and everyday life.
- I'm a researcher or clinicianGene profiles with references, and our grants program.
RAB educational series
Learn with Dr. Steve Johnston
Blindness Education Podcasts with Co-Founder Dr. Steve Johnston
Inherited Retinal Disease Education: Free Clinical Trial Hub
An introduction to the free clinical trial hub for inherited retinal diseases.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Vision Loss Treatments: Gene Therapy, Optogenetics and More
An overview of vision loss treatment topics, including gene therapy and optogenetics.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Retinal Gene Therapy: How Viral Vectors Deliver Missing Genes
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.
Meet the Team
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.
Stay in the race
New fundraisers, winners, and grant news, about twice a month. Questions? The Help Center is our front door.
Visit the Help Center