BLIND COURAGE is a narrative feature film based on the inspirational true story of Bill Irwin, the first and only blind man to thru-hike the 2,168 miles of the Appalachian Trail without GPS or human assistance. The production team is seeking to raise the film’s estimated $300,000 budget through crowd funding.

Baltimore, MD -- (SBWire) -- 11/04/2014 --“God leads the dog, and the dog leads me,” said Bill Irwin, inspirational blind hiker, about his journey along the Appalachian Trail with his seeing eye dog, Orient. This sentiment summed up both his famous hike and parts of his own life as he grew from being an alcoholic with a reckless past into a hiker, writer, motivational speaker, and an inspiration to countless others who face adversity in their own lives.

In 1990, Irwin wrote a book about his hike called Blind Courage. He said God helped him turn his life around, and the hike was a testimony to God in return. And now that story will be made into a feature film, with some help from crowd funding donations.

“We are so honored to be able to tell Bill’s story,” said Paula O’Neal, producer of BLIND COURAGE. “This is more than the story of a man who goes for a 2,000 mile long walk. He was trapped in freak snowstorms all alone in the middle of nowhere, but his faith and courage guided him through it. It’s a celebration of life itself. Bill’s story has already touched countless lives and, by bringing it to the big screen, it is going to touch many more.”

The production team includes Clint Ross, a director with previous experience in the unique area of faith-based narrative documentaries. He previously directed The Angel of Marye's Heights, a dramatic documentary about Confederate Sgt. Richard Kirkland and his heroic efforts to aid his wounded opponents during the American Civil War.

The BLIND COURAGE team is currently raising $300,000 needed for filming through crowd funding site IndieGoGo. Anyone who is interested in seeing this film made can make a contribution towards the budget and receive a “Thank you” perk in return. Perks range from $5 for a virtual fist bump up to $25,000 for a commercial product placement opportunity. There are perks available for every budget and the most popular include film DVD PRE-ORDERS, VIP access to the film set, and even a perk that allows you to be cast as an extra in the film. Contributors can visit the crowd funding page https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/blind-courage-the-movie to see all the perks.

About BLIND COURAGE the film
Blind Courage is a faith-based/adventure/biography about former alcoholic and social outcast, Bill Irwin, and his attempt to hike the 2100 mile Appalachian Trail despite the fact that he cannot see. Using his faith in God and the instincts of his guide dog, Bill Irwin, a blind man attempting to hike the entire Appalachian trail in a single hiking season, looks back on his life pulling from the lessons he learned while coping with the effects of his blindness to give him the courage he needs to make it to the finish line at Mt. Katahdin in Maine.

About the BLIND COURAGE production team
BLIND COURAGE will be produced by Paula O’Neal and directed by Michael C. “Clint” Ross. Partners include The Seeing Eye, the oldest and most respected seeing eye dog school in the United States, as well as the National Federation for the Blind (Baltimore, MD Chapter), who is advising the production team from the blind community. BLIND COURAGE is scheduled to begin filming early Summer of 2015.