Westmeath donations for Sightsavers Ireland totalled almost €60,000 in 2009, which will go towards helping prevent blindness, restore sight, and advocate for social inclusion and equal rights for people who are blind and visually impaired, in 21 developing countries.
Speaking at the launch of Sightsavers Gift of Sight Campaign, CEO of Sightsavers Ireland, John Fleming, expressed his appreciation for the donations received to date particularly given the difficult year.
“We are very grateful for the support received this year from donors in Westmeath and we’d like to send out a huge thanks to all our supporters. Christmas is a vital period for Sightsavers as 25 per cent of annual donations are received at this time of year. I’d like to remind people that purchasing a gift from Gift of Sight can save sight and change lives in the developing world.
Sightsavers ‘Gift of Sight’ offers alternative gift ideas for friends and loved ones this Christmas.
Available through www.giftofsight.ie there is a wide range of gifts to suit every budget. For instance, just €6 could pay for a life-transforming gift of a trichiasis operation which alleviates pain and scarring of the eye and saves sight. For only €12 eye tests can be carried out and six children fitted with glasses. For €22 you could protect a whole community against river blindness for an entire year.
Since 1950, Sightsavers has restored sight to more than 6 million people and treated over 200 million more. Visit www.giftofsight.ie for information on Sightsavers ‘Gift of Sight’ catalogue.
