The annual World Sight Day appeal in October attracted strong support this year with the number of optometric participants increasing by 30 per cent on 2017. Individuals, optometrists, practices, companies, and students bent their minds to find new and creative ways to raise funds and promote the vision of ‘Eye Care Everywhere’. Highlights included fundraising efforts from Eyecare Plus Orange, Eyecare Kids, and ProVision.
Optometrists at Hansen Eyecare Plus Orange donated one consultation fee on World Sight Day and small repair fees to the annual appeal. Throughout the year Hansen Eyecare Plus Orange continues to raise funds for Optometry Giving Sight by donating $2 from every buddy pair sale.
Eyecare Kids Hillsdale and Eyecare Plus Kareela hosted a fundraising book swap. ‘Swap a book, save a sight’ took place from 29 September to 13 October and encouraged parents and their children to visit the practice with their old books and exchange them for new ones with a gold coin donation to Optometry Giving Sight. One mother who attended the book swap said, “Thank you so much for organising the book swap, my boys are loving their new reads and we are always happy to donate to a good cause”.
ProVision’s CEO Steven Johnston spent an entire day blindfolded at work, symbolising the need for good vision in daily lives. Mr. Johnston supports Optometry Giving Sight through ProVision’s corporate sponsorship and as a regular donor. More than 1.22 billion people around the world suffer from preventable blindness and vision impairment. It’s never too late to make a donation to transform the lives of those in need. Visit: givingsight.org or contact Optometry Giving Sight at australia@givingsight.org or by phone (AUS) 1300 881 073.
