Rodeway Inn Supports Macular Degeneration Research

Foundation Fighting Blindness
Friday, 9 March 2001

Guests Can Save 10% at Popular Hotel Chain

(Hunt Valley, MD) March 9, 2001-In a new partnership announced today, Rodeway Inn is teaming up with The Foundation Fighting Blindness to support macular degeneration research. As part of the program, through May 31, all guests booking a room through the "L-Eyes" rate at the popular hotel chain will receive a 10% discount off room rates.

Rodeway Inn, which has 151 hotels throughout the country, will donate between $25,000-$50,000 to help fund research for macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among people over the age of 55. The disease affects more than 6 million people in the United States and an additional 15 million people have pre-symptomatic signs of the disease that could lead to vision loss.

"As millions of baby boomers age and life expectancies increase, the number of people affected by macular degeneration could reach epidemic proportions," said Robert Gray, Chief Executive Officer of The Foundation Fighting Blindness. "We applaud Rodeway Inn for their commitment to help fund research critical to our mission. With the support of groups like Rodeway, we can speed the pace of research and find lasting treatments and cures for this devastating disease."

The Foundation Fighting Blindness (www.blindness.org) is the largest source of non-governmental funding for retinal degenerative disease research in the world. The urgent mission of The Foundation is to find treatments and cures for all retinal degenerative diseases including macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, Usher syndrome and Stargardt disease. The National Health Council has consistently rated The Foundation number one for the percentage of program dollars spent on research.

To help support macular degeneration and save 10% at any Rodeway Inn throughout the country, call 1-800-228-2000 and ask for the "L-Eyes Rate."

For more information, or to contact Foundation Fighting Blindness, see their website at: www.blindness.org