Help Restore Sight In The Pacific - National Eyecare Day

Media Release
Date: 26 July 2012


Help Restore Sight In The Pacific When You Bring Your Glasses In For A Check Up
Specsavers National Eyecare Day aims to restore sight to hundreds of vision impaired

Specsavers National Eyecare Day is taking place on Saturday 25 August 2012 as part of a month long Specsavers’ initiative to raise $5,000 for The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.

Stores will be collecting gold coin donations for fixing, cleaning and checking all glasses that are brought into store from Wednesday 01 August until Friday 31 August. The funds will be used to support The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ’s work in the Pacific, including life-changing cataract surgery to restore sight to the blind.

“In the Pacific, four out of five people who are blind don’t need to be,” says Andrew Bell, Executive Director of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ. “We work tirelessly to train local eye health workers and restore sight to the needlessly blind, and this is a great opportunity for Kiwis to support this vital work.”

Visitors to the store can not only ensure their glasses are in tip-top shape but can also get their own eyes checked at the same time.

Specsavers Managing Director, Graeme Edmond says, “All Kiwis should have their eyes tested every two years to ensure good eye health, so we’re encouraging people to use Specsavers National Eyecare Day as motivation to get their regular eye check or just come in for a glasses spruce up!

“The work of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is truly inspiring and this fundraising campaign gives people a simple way to get involved.”

Specsavers National Eyecare Day provides an opportunity for all Kiwis to help fund the continuation of Fred Hollows’ legacy and The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ’s life-saving work.

“Kiwi eye surgeon Fred Hollows was incredibly passionate about his work, and that passion lives on through The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ. Our vision continues to be of a world where no one is needlessly blind, and we want to ensure that our Pacific neighbours have the same access to eye care as we do here in New Zealand,” says Mr Bell.

Everyone can make a difference by bringing in their glasses for a quick check up from Wednesday 01 August to Friday 31 August. Every donation made will help make high quality eye care accessible and affordable for all.

For more information please visit Specsavers Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SpecsaversNewZealand
For more information about The Fred Hollows Foundation: www.hollows.org.nz

About Specsavers National Eyecare Day

• Specsavers National Eyecare Day is a fundraising initiative by Specsavers optometrists on behalf of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ
• The fundraising drive runs from Wednesday 01 August to Friday 31 August
• Simply bring your glasses in for fixing, cleaning or checking and a gold coin donation will go to the Fred Hollows Foundation NZ

About Specsavers
Specsavers stores across New Zealand are proud supporters of multiple charities, community and sporting organisations. With a commitment to making high quality eye care affordable to everyone, Specsavers is also in partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation, raising funds for its inspiring work in the Pacific, including life-changing cataract surgery to restore sight to the blind. Bringing value to the eye wear market, Specsavers offers ‘2 pairs of glasses for 1 low price’ on all glasses $169 and above, with designer ranges starting at two pairs from $299. High quality, standard single vision PENTAX lenses are always included in the price. At Specsavers, digital retinal photography is included with every standard eye test for free. Specsavers was founded by Doug and Dame Mary Perkins in 1984 and is now the largest privately owned optical retailer in the world and the largest in New Zealand. The couple still actively run the company today, along with their three children. Specsavers has more than 1,500 stores in ten countries worldwide and 52 stores in New Zealand.

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ENDS

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