The Billingsley Family

We are the Billingsley Family. As a family of seven, our life is crazy, fun, and full of adventure. Each of our children, Lucas, Anna, Nathan, Jacob, and Ella, has brought a profound joy to our life. We are blessed beyond measure.

Jacob, our 13-year-old was diagnosed with LCA CRB1, a severe degenerative retinal disease, at the age of two. He is legally blind, has poor peripheral and depth perception, and is night blind. He is AMAZING! His determination and ability are humbling. He is trouble, he is hilarious, most of all, he is undeniably lovable.

We are members of the Board of Directors for the Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation (CRBF). The CRBF was founded by a group of parents with children that are blind or visually impaired due to CRB1 degenerative retinal disease. Some of our children have already lost most of their sight. Many of our children still have some useable vision, but it will deteriorate if nothing is done to stop the degeneration. Our mission is to fund research for a cure. To date, we have raised over $1.4 million dollars towards that mission. The promising research we are funding has led us so close to a cure; hopeful to reach clinical trial in the next three years.

Our family has been fundraising since Jacob’s diagnosis. The R.B. EYE September Slam, a softball tournament, auction, and picnic, was created in 2013. Together with the amazing community in St. Paul, Missouri we were able to raise over $110,000.00 benefitting Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation.

Light the Night, Cocktails for Cure, a Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation Signature Event, made its debut as a virtual auction in 2021. We are so pleased to announce that this April 15, 2023, Light the Night will be an in-person event at Tom’s Town Distillery in downtown Kansas City. Just as our softball tournament, this event is dedicated to friendship, fun, and philanthropy. It will be an evening filled with live and silent auctions, music, and of course cocktails. Our amazing team is already hard at work creating a magnificent night to remember.

We believe that our days on earth are a gift, and to use them wisely. Each day is a new opportunity, a chance to change something for the better, the ability to make a difference for someone else. Every day we continue our Mission for Vision. By supporting the Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation, you are not just funding awareness, YOU ARE FUNDING A CURE! Hope has become the reality. As parents, our children are the light of our world. Please help them to be able to see how very beautiful it is!