Paul
(PRESS RELEASE) GOLDEN, CO – There are 1.22 billion people around the world, millions of whom are children, who are blind or vision-impaired because they do not have access to an eye exam and glasses. The World Sight Day Challenge is a response to this alarming statistic and is Optometry Giving Sight’s largest fundraising campaign of the year. The challenge 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, Oct. 10, and continues through until the end of October.
“It is estimated that as much as 80% of what a child learns is processed through the visual system; an eye examination and glasses can mean the difference between a life of poverty and a life of opportunity,” said Dr. Juan Carlos Aragon, chair of Optometry Giving Sight. “A child’s ability to play and learn and to contribute at home and school is largely dependent on good vision.”
Nine-year-old Paul was living on the streets in Kenya after being abandoned by his parents. Paul also had an additional challenge as he has an unusual vision impairment with one eye being near sighted and the other far sighted. His daily life was difficult to say the least.
Fortunately, the head teacher of a local school for vision-impaired students noticed Paul foraging on the streets and struggling with his vision. The teacher was able to enroll Paul in his school and get him the care he needed at an Optometry Giving Sight funded vision center. Paul is now off the streets and flourishing at school.
The World Sight Day Challenge helps fund eyecare projects that help transform the lives of children like Paul.
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For the past 13 years, thousands of optometrists, staff members, patients and students 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.
“The gift of sight and the ability to help bring sight to others are among the most fundamentally noble things anyone can do, bringing an immediate palpable difference in a person’s life,” says Colin Connors, OD, Isthmus Eye Care, Madison and Middleton, WI.
“OGS is our charity of choice. I believe they are making a difference in this world and it’s so rewarding to be able to be a small part of that,” says Barbara Wohlk, Eyecare Associates of Lewiston, Lewiston, MT.
The challenge also brings together many of the most well-known companies in the optical industry who support the cause. Leading companies who are members of the World Sight Day Challenge Coalition include: ABB Optical, Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, CooperVision, EyePromise, Vision Source, VSP, Westgroupe. all of whom conduct robust employee giving programs around the challenge.
Optometry Giving Sight encourages everyone to join the World Sight Day Challenge and help transform the lives of people around the world by helping to provide access to eye care.
To donate or pledge participation, supporters can visit: www.givingsight.org
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