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Centreville Man Leads Walk Against Blindness

John McKeown, who is legally blind, is co-chairman of the 5k VisionWalk in Reston.

Although Centreville’s John McKeown lost his sight years ago due to a progressive eye disease, the father of two tries to prevent the disability from interfering with what he enjoys most in life. 

He has ridden a snow mobile through Yellowstone National Park, skied in Colorado and can be accused of having a generally sunny disposition. But don’t try to say McKeown “suffers” from the blindness-causing affliction called retinitis pigmentosa. McKeown doesn’t like the word “suffer” connected to the disease. He is blind and tries to make the best of it. 

“I never think of myself as suffering,” said McKeown, 50, a data architect with GTSI in Herndon. He has been with the company for 25 years. “I feel that you have to live your life and do best you can with what you got.” 

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Trained as a mechanical engineer at Virginia Tech, McKeown began noticing his vision starting to really fade in college. It was especially difficult to see at night and he worked hard not to get stranded in some lonely part of the campus after dark. His brother also has the disease. 

Back when he was first diagnosed, there was little hope for a cure. Now, new gene and stem cell therapies offer a much broader promise. As a result, McKeown became involved with the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which raises money for retinal degenerative disease research. He is the co-chairman of the May 5 VisionWalk at Lake Newport Swim Club- in Reston, and looking for volunteers to help out at the walk.

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“There is reason to believe that a cure for RP (retinitis pigmentosa) is in sight,” McKeown said. “This is the most exciting and promising point to-date in the history of RP research. There is a real possibility that gene therapy, stem cells or other treatments will one day allow those of us with RP to regain our sight.” 

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Even though a cure may be in reach, McKeown said he has always tried to make the best of things. 

“I never put my life on hold waiting for cure,” McKeown said. “I’ve got to live my life. If I spend my time waiting for something to happen, I could be waiting my whole life.” 

For example, McKeown said his daughters Jenna, 13, and Anna, 10, have gotten a far-from-ordinary dad. Recently, the latch broke on their van. McKeown decided to save some money and repair it himself. He bought the $50 part, downloaded a YouTube instructional video and attacked the project with the help of Jenna. She watched the video and he helped with taking off the old latch and making the repairs. 

But, the promise of a cure does give him some hope for the future, he said. 

"I want to look into the eyes of my two daughters and see them for the first time,” McKeown said. “And, with my wife Linda, I want to see my wedding album, not just hold it.”

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