Photo: KFC Colonel Original and Look-a-Like Share Eye Treatment Suc...( The current 'The Colonel' featured in...),Health

The current 'The Colonel' featured in award winning Helen Keller Foundation

video

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Back in 1978, the original Kentucky Fried Chicken famed Colonel Harland Sanders traveled to the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital in Birmingham to treat a debilitating eye disease. The Colonel was so grateful for his recovery that he donated money to advancing eye treatment and in building a then state-of-the-art eye treatment hospital. Now, some 30 years later, KFC Colonel look-a-like, John Baxley of Anniston, Ala., has been successfully treated at the same hospital for a common and debilitating eye disease, Degenerative Vitreous Syndrome (DVS). The Colonel was featured in an eye surgery film that captured the 2007 Buckler Award at the annual meeting of the American Society of Retina Specialists this month.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/helenkellerfoundation/31254/

The award winning video highlights the symptoms and successful treatments now available to cure DVS. Baxley, the current official KFC Goodwill Ambassador, has pledged his time and efforts in improving eye sight for others through the support of the Helen Keller Foundation. "It was like giving me my life back," said Baxley.

"The Colonel" had extensive vitreous cloudiness in both eyes. "I could no longer safely drive or travel around the world for my many appearances," he said. "I was going to have to give up my job representing Colonel Sanders' image that is so beloved worldwide." Baxley was elated with his return to normal vision. "It's ironic that Colonel Harland Sanders himself had successful surgery at this same eye hospital. Now I'm going to help the Helen Keller Foundation in its effort to fund eye research and support the building of a new eye hospital for the Uni
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