An astounding 1.22 billion people around the world are blind or vision-impaired because they do not have access to an eye exam and the glasses they need.
Equally shocking is that 60% of children in the developing world who go blind, die within the first year. The World Sight Day Challenge is a response to these alarming statistics. Coordinated by Optometry Giving Sight, the annual fundraising campaign brings the global optometry community together to raise money and awareness to help provide eye care to those in need. The Challenge is focused on World Sight Day, Thursday October 11th, and runs throughout October.
After losing her glasses, 14-year-old Cambodian girl Sokhanya cried for days. She knew exactly what it meant to lose them. Now her parents had to walk her to school as she might slip and fall on the uneven road and her beloved art and language classes were now impossible.
A free eye screening service came to her school. After receiving an eye exam and a new pair of glasses, she was again able to walk alone to school, learn, and enjoy the company of her friends. Sokhanya is smiling again and her dream now is to become a nurse to help others.
The World Sight Day Challenge will help fund projects that will transform the lives of children like Sokhanya. Importantly, funds raised will help an additional one million people receive eye care in 2018.
For the past 12 years, thousands of optometrists, their staff, patients, students and families have taken the World Sight Day Challenge and made a difference by making a tax-deductible donation and/or by raising funds in their practice, school or company.
Dr. Kate MacNeill and her team from Edinburgh Optometry in Guelph ON have participated in the Challenge for the past 7 years.
“I have witnessed first-hand the incredible impact on communities when providing eye care in under-serviced areas or when mentoring the graduates of a newly established optometry school. The World Sight Day Challenge unites our doctors and staff in the common goal of raising funds for Optometry Giving Sight. Our patients and broader community have embraced this cause. They have been very generous in supporting our vision of reaching and providing appropriate services in regions where there is need,” said Dr. MacNeill.
Optometry Giving Sight encourages everyone to support the World Sight Day Challenge and help transform the lives of millions of people in need like Sokhanya.
To donate or pledge participation, supporters can visit: https://www.givingsight.org/giving/world-sight-day-challenge.html .
Click HERE for the full press release.
