WHEREAS, RP International has made its mission the search for a treatment and eventual cure for degenerative blindness; and

WHEREAS, RP International’s efforts quickly garnered support from the entertainment industry, service groups and the general public, in addition, they have brought worldwide attention to degenerative blindness; and

WHEREAS, this support was rallied to produce the first RP eye sight telethon in 1980, The Bob Hope Insight Special; and

WHEREAS, this Special reached out to people across the United States, promoting awareness of, and education for the masses about, degenerative blindness; and

WHEREAS, when experimental surgery restored eyesight a few years ago and in keeping with the approach taken by RP International and Dr. Gholam Peyman in 1984, the surgery was declared a success, and beneficial to mankind; and

WHEREAS, 26 million Americans have now been diagnosed with degenerative blindness, it is through the persistent efforts of RP International’s army of volunteers educating the public that a cure might be found:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JIM GIBBONS, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim June 12, 2008, as