Despite her fear of heights, Natanya Sortland will once again represent Chester County in Eye Drop 2022, a fundraising event held annually 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.

Sortland said performing the feat is part of her personal effort to raise funds for VisionCorps and to make people in the county aware of how she personally benefited from the services that the organization provides, including training individuals on how to use a cane to navigate obstacles both at home and in the community.

"I went through the whole experience (of rappelling) and when I got down, I realized it wasn't as bad as the year I spent desperately trying to find help and not being able to read a book or a recipe and feeling my way through my house and almost getting hit by a car," said Sortland. "What VisionCorps offers is training and a way of living an independent life with courage and with pride."

Sortland's vision was damaged after she suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Although her limited vision is blurry, she was aware of the building's height during last year's Eye Drop. "It felt like it took forever (to reach the ground), but the clock said six and a half minutes," she noted.

Like the other participants, Sortland was secured with a harness and ropes that operated on a pulley system. "They cinch you up and put all the gear on. Right before, there is a room you are in and that's where you get to practice individually on how to do it," she recalled. "I was the first to go. I looked over the edge and looked down and I never felt such terror in my life. Everyone looked like dots. I just pretended I was OK. I faced the crowd and did a fist pump, but no one knew how scared I was."

While rappelling, Sortland dressed like Lady Liberty to represent her newly independent life. She plans to dress in costume again this year. "(People in) Chester County need to know about VisionCorps," she stated. "I will do this every year until I am the oldest person doing it. Even if it's not, I will tell myself it will be easier (this time)."

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. This year's goal is to raise $175,000.

This is the third year for Eye Drop, and this year, a new attraction 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. Those who would like to contribute to Sortland's fundraising efforts may visit https://give.visioncorps.net/team/403592.