Georgia Eye Bank grants the gift of sight.
In 2001, Buckhead resident Mari Fridenmaker’s beloved Labrador accidentally scratched her owner’s eye. The ensuing infection became so debilitating that Fridenmaker had to go on disability. By the time it healed, her cornea was badly scarred, and a transplant was necessary.
Enter the Georgia Eye Bank, Inc. (GEB) in Sandy Springs that supplied tissue for more than 1,700 surgeries in 2014 and has helped restore the sight of more than 38,000 people since 1961.
Once she received the transplant, Fridenmaker became active in the triathlon community and competed in an Ironman (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2- mile run) to raise funds for the organization. She’s a very active volunteer for GEB and has raised thousands of dollars to support its mission. It also led to a new career, Blue Iron Coaching, where she works with racing newcomers.
Another GEB recipient, Kelvin Davis of Brookhaven, was diagnosed with keratoconus, a hereditary disease that could have jeopardized his career as a vice president at CNN. “A corneal transplant in 2005 gave me back my life,” he says. Davis, like Fridenmaker, is also participating in triathlons and “gives back” by doing testimonials for the GEB.
GEB serves the entire state of Georgia and two South Carolina counties.
For more information, visit georgiaeyebank.org, and donate at donatelife.ga.org.
