About the Film
After her sister Taylor’s diagnosis with Batten disease in 2006, Laura King Edwards and her family, unwilling to take “no cure” for an answer, set out on the fight of their lives. But over time, Laura came to understand that while their efforts would play a prominent role in breakthrough treatments and life-changing public policies, they were too late to save her sister. And yet, Taylor’s unwavering courage in the face of certain death renewed Laura’s sense of purpose to turn her family’s tragedy into an opportunity for others.
In a bold effort to bring global awareness to the plight of children like Taylor, Laura trained to run without the gift of sight, as her blind sister had done. In 2013, she ran the Thunder Road Half Marathon (now Charlotte Half Marathon) blindfolded.
Now, 10 years after that daring effort, five years after losing her sister, and the year following reconstructive ankle surgery, Laura will wear the blindfold again, this time in an attempt to break the world record for fastest blindfolded half marathon by a female.
We will join Laura through her training, dive into the courage and pain of Laura and her family’s fight against Batten disease, and follow Laura’s race as she competes to break the record.
“Blind Momentum" is an uplifting documentary that showcases the power of the human spirit and the extraordinary achievements that can be accomplished when we dare to dream big and refuse to give up. It's a story that will inspire viewers to face their own challenges and pursue their passions with unwavering determination.
About Laura
Laura King Edwards is a lifelong writer, dynamic public speaker, accomplished runner and passionate rare disease advocate. She is the author of the memoir “Run to the Light” and numerous essays and short stories.
Laura was named one of Charlotte’s 50 Most Influential Women in 2019, winning Woman of the Year. She has been nominated for the Global Genes RARE Champion of Hope award for her outstanding contributions to the rare disease community.
She is the featured columnist for Batten Disease News. She co-founded Taylor’s Tale, the organization named for her late sister. Taylor’s Tale is recognized around the world for its accomplishments in the fight against CLN1 disease and other rare diseases.
In 2017, Laura’s TEDx Talk, Running Toward Rare, captivated an audience of more than 1,100 at TEDxCharlotte. She has run more than 40 half marathons, two of them blindfolded.
By day, Laura is the content marketing director at an independent marketing agency. She is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s in English and a minor in creative writing. She lives in Fort Mill, South Carolina.