"It's a way for me to give back to VisionCorps and to help other people facing the same challenges that I am," said Mike Hora, when explaining his motivation to participate in Eye Drop 2022, which is presented by VisionCorps, a nonprofit organization that provides services to the blind and visually impaired. During the event, participants are asked to rappel 120 feet from the roof of the Holiday Inn in Lancaster down 10 stories to the ground.

Hora is legally blind and has glaucoma, an eye disease that affects his depth perception and ability to see fine detail. He began working at VisionCorps in 2013, and heard about the fundraiser from Megan Tomsheck, VisionCorps vice president.

"I never had a fear of heights, and I was pretty active my entire life. I wanted to do it. It sounded like fun," Hora recalled. "Megan Tomsheck provided some videos and literature, and the more I saw and read, the more excited I got. It's our biggest fundraiser."

He credits VisionCorps' rehabilitation services with helping him learn to adapt to his vision loss and to find employment again, this time working on a production line at VisionCorps.

"Eleven years ago, it got to the point I was not able to do the work that I was trained for. Somebody recommended VisionCorps, and I contacted them. They jumped into action," he said. "I was assigned a client manager, and they evaluated my needs and provided me with mobility and occupational and vocational rehab."

"I have never been charged a dime for the services I received," he added.

VisionCorps also provided Hora with technology training that allows him to use his smartphone and a computer. "I suffered significant vision loss two years ago. I lost the ability to read texts, so I got introduced to a software program called JAWS that allows me to use the computer," he said. "It actually reads what is on the screen and tells me what I am typing in. It's like learning a whole new language."

Hora is taking part in the Eye Drop fundraiser for the third time. "This year I promised myself to give it more time coming down," he said. "They do a great job with training. It's very safe. They take all the safety precautions."

Eye Drop 2022, VisionCorps' signature fundraiser, is set for Friday, June 10, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Lancaster, 26 E. Chestnut St., Lancaster. Participants must commit to raising at least $1,000 each to support VisionCorps.

A new attraction at this year's Eye Drop will be an expo. It will include information about services provided by the agency, tips and demonstrations of equipment for those with impaired vision and information about ways to promote healthy eyesight. Also scheduled are technology demonstrations and talks by medical professionals, who will discuss healthy diets and how diet impacts eye conditions. To learn more about the event or to register as a participant, visit http://www.EyeDrop2022.org.

Hora, an outdoorsman and fisherman, has created a fundraising team called American Ninja Walleyes. Those who would like to contribute to his fundraising efforts may visit https://give.visioncorps.net/team/411113.