DEMOPOLIS &8212; Toney Nixon is known in the community as a man with promising musical talents, which he shares by performing at local events and churches. But now Nixon is looking for the community he grew up in to lend their support to him.

When Nixon was born he suffered severe dehydration, causing him to contract glaucoma. His eyesight continued to worsen until he became completely blind. But this has not stopped him from doing the things that are important to him.

Something that is very important to him is attending the National Federation for the Blind&8217;s Convention to be held in Dallas this summer. But in order to get the chance to go, he has to raise funds to help pay for his expenses.

According to the NFB, more than 70 percent of blind people are unemployed or under-employed.

To help offset this statistic and still get their members involved, the Magic City chapter of the NFB in Birmingham sponsors a Walk-A-Thon to raise funds that go toward scholarships for the convention.

Nixon hopes to be one of those to receive a scholarship, and this would be his first time to attend an NFB event.

Although the Walk-A-Thon&8217;s main purpose is to raise funds, Nixon said there is another important reason for him to participate.

The Walk-A-Thon will be on May 17 at the Eastlake Park in Birmingham. The convention, which will include a segment about advances in technology that can help blind people in their daily lives, will be June 29-July 5.

For more information on how to be a sponsor, call Ola Mae Nixon at 334-289-2874 or Toney Nixon at 289-0280.