Optical Express has raised over £3.6k for the deserving charity Sightsavers, an international organisation that works with developing countries to help support children and adults with visual impairments.
Staff at the UK’s only complete eye care provider once again this year donated an hour’s pay from their November or December salary as a gesture of goodwill during the festive period, to help raise funds for the good cause.
In total, 123 hours – just over five days – were donated, raising just over £1.8k. Impressed by the great efforts of its hardworking staff, Optical Express pledged to match this figure, bringing the overall monies raised to £3,656.
There are 39 million blind people in the world, but 75 percent of blindness can be cured or prevented, meaning that there are 31.2 million people who are blind when they needn't be and can be helped by a simple operation. Sightsavers works tirelessly to help these people and aims to treat and prevent a range of eye conditions, including cataracts, refractive error, and neglected tropical diseases.
David Moulsdale, CEO at Optical Express, said: “Our staff are just as passionate as us when it comes to charity activity and they are always willing to go the extra mile to help us raise money. Donating over 120 hours is a great achievement and we’re delighted to donate the sum of £3,656 to Sightsavers, as part of our ongoing relationship with the charity.
“Surprisingly, 75% of sight loss can be cured or prevented, meaning millions of people would be able to see if they had access to simple surgery or glasses – the type of care we take for granted in the UK.
“A donation of £30 is what it costs Sightsavers to perform life-changing cataract surgery in developing countries across the world. Therefore, our donation could see over 120 people undergo life-changing treatment, to once again be able to see.
“We’re committed to supporting this great organisation and the wonderful work it does, transforming the lives of those most in need and we look forward to Optical Express helping with this work further in 2019.”
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