By: Seth Johnson

While collectively raising $215,000 towards IBCF's mission to empower youth who are blind or have low vision, attendees of this year’s Through the Looking Glass Gala at the private estate of Forrest and Charlotte Lucas were also introduced to keynote speaker Dan Parker and his  compelling life story.

More than just the world’s fastest blind racecar driver; Parker is a testament to human resilience and the power of possibility. After losing his sight in a racing accident, Dan refused to let his dreams be sidelined. He defied limitations, pioneering a custom audio guidance system and returning to the racetrack, eventually claiming the Guinness World Record title at a blistering 211 mph.

With his keynote speech at this year’s Gala, Parker spoke to the many eyecare professionals in the room, sharing his personal experience with overcoming vision loss while offering up many words of wisdom as well.

"Blindness is not what’s stopping you," Parker said. "Surround yourself with believers and go for your dreams. You can either make excuses or you can make it happen.”

Much like 2023 Through the Looking Glass Gala keynote speaker Christine Ha, Parker also set aside time to meet with students from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISBVI), speaking with them alongside his red Corvette as part of a very special engagement at the Dallara IndyCar Factory in Speedway. As part of this engagement, students had the opportunity to hear Parker’s story of persistence, while also getting in the driver’s seat of his record-setting Corvette, touching and learning about the vehicle’s parts under the hood, and touring the Dallara IndyCar Factory.

Next year, Gala attendees can again help raise funds for IBCF’s mission while also having a great time capped off by an impactful keynote speech such as the one mentioned above from Dan Parker. The 2025 Through the Looking Glass Gala will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, so be sure to mark it on your calendar now. We hope to see you there!