The Insider.com

You might have noticed True Blood star Deborah Ann Woll on the red carpet with her boyfriend of five years E.J. Scott, who usually carries a cane due to a degenerative eye disease. We sat down with E.J. to find out what it's like being in the spotlight with Deborah and how he's embarked on his own ambitious effort to raise awareness about the disease that has made him legally blind.

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E.J. explained that he suffers from choroideremia - a degenerative, hereditary eye disease that attacks peripherally and erodes over time until total blindness occurs. First diagnosed in 2003 at age 27, he is currently down to vision of only 10-15 degrees in each eye. The illness currently has no cure and E.J. says at best he can only slow the progression before going totally blind.

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He feels so strongly about increasing efforts to find a cure that he came up with his own publicity campaign that involves him running 12 marathons in 12 states in 12 months -- and all of them while blindfolded! He says Deborah has been fully supportive in helping him reach a goal of raising $144,000 in research money.

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While E.J. says he doesn't always attend red carpet events because the photo flashes are too much for his eyes, he is able to support Deborah at home. His tunnel vision still allows him to watch TV and he says he's Deborah's biggest fan. "Yes, it's my favorite show, I get to watch True Blood," he said. "Thank God I can watch True Blood!"

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Watch the video to learn more and to view the Public Service Announcement E.J. and Deborah filmed to publicize the marathons and raise awareness about the disease.