If you scanned this QR code, it means you took a moment to stop. That simple gesture means more to me than you can imagine.
My name is Benjamin. I’m 34 years old, and because of a rare genetic eye disease, I’m gradually losing my sight.
I grew up in the north of France and later traveled a bit the world through my career as a model. For many years, everything was going well.
Until 17th June 2019.
That was the day I heard the words “Retinitis Pigmentosa” for the first time from a doctor.
A rare genetic disease that slowly destroys the cells of my retina and progressively takes away my vision.
At 27 years old, I had to face a future I was not ready to accept. The fear, the uncertainty, and the idea that one day I might become blind were difficult to process.
But after the shock came a question:
What am I going to do with the time I still have?
A few months later, during my very first runway show for Giorgio Armani, I almost missed the exit. The room was dark, I was wearing sunglasses, and with my limited vision I couldn’t see where I was supposed to go. Luckily, a security guard standing behind a panel noticed me, grabbed me by the collar, and guided me back in the right direction.
That moment stayed with me.
It made me realize that I could no longer hide what was happening.
I decided to share my story with my agencies and clients through a unique project I proposed to Armani with who I was working quite well at this time: crossing the Atlantic Ocean by sailboat, supported by them, while creating a film and photography project to raise awareness about Retinitis Pigmentosa and support medical research.
Watch the journey :
This adventure led to the creation of Horizon Usher Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and supporting research into inherited retinal diseases.
Since then, we have continued creating projects combining art, storytelling, and inclusion.
In 2025, we organized the largest inclusive fashion shows ever created, bringing together blind models, visually impaired models, and professional models on the same runway.
A different vision of fashion.
A different vision of disability.
It was amazing. Second edition coming soon, during NY Fashion Week.
Discover the project :
Why am I here today?
I’m not here to ask strangers for money.
I’m here to share my story.
To meet people.
To create connections.
To why not find people who want to help build projects, share ideas, volunteer, partner, or simply understand more about invisible disabilities.
Maybe this small moment will lead to a conversation, a collaboration, or something we could never have imagined.
A dream before I lose more of my sight
A few days ago, my parents surprised me by creating a fundraising campaign. Their words touched me more than I can explain.
I had a little tear I admit, seeing that beyond my condition, I’m very well surrounded.
In a way, I don’t want to spend my time thinking about what I am losing. I’d rather focus on what I can still experience.
I have always dreamed of discovering the world, but not as I do as a model, through a taxi or a plane window, but by truly living the journey.
Meeting people.
Crossing landscapes.
Discovering cultures.
Taking the time to appreciate every place.
Because my vision no longer allows me to safely cycle alone, we imagined another way:
A tandem bicycle.
A tandem means moving forward together. Trusting each other. Sharing the effort, the challenges, and the beauty of the road.
The idea is to travel across countries, taking smaller roads, meeting people, and discovering each place at the rhythm of the journey.
Country after country, kilometer after kilometer, for as long as my vision allows me to experience the world.
If you would like to discover this personal journey and support this dream:
Thank you for taking the time to stop, read, and learn my story.
Whether you choose to share it, support our work, donate, get involved, or simply come and talk with us, I am grateful that our paths crossed today.
Whatever happens next, this moment already matters.