Raised: 74%
Target: £3,000.00
Raised so far: £2,208.50
Donate now

My story

 
Africa Needs Your Help!

Close your eyes for 20 seconds, it’s difficult isn’t it. Imagine your life without vision, even more difficult.

 

You and I are so lucky. If we have a vision problem we can do something about it. A quick visit to the
opticians to get glasses or contact lenses, will usually solve the problem. If vision loss is caused by
cataract (a cloudy lens, usually developing in older age), we are able to have cataract surgery.
In fact a cataract operation is the most common operation in the UK.

 

But what if we didn’t have access to these basic services? This is the harsh reality faced by people
in developing countries in Africa. People who simply need spectacles or a cataract operation, are
effectively blinded due to a severe lack of resources.

 

You can help! In November I am going to Africa, as a volunteer, with the charity Vision Aid Overseas.
A team of 8 of us will be testing eyes and providing spectacles for people who otherwise would not
have access to basic eye care.

 

I am so passionate about this project because for the very first time our team will include a consultant
Ophthalmologist (a surgeon). This means we can also help those with cataract (these people cannot
be helped with spectacles). If it works well, projects in the future may also include Ophthalmologists.
In the UK, cataract operations are performed on the NHS, paid for by taxpayers money, in Africa
there is no such system. We need to raise money to allow us to help as many people as possible.

 

How you can help

 

Take 10 mins to watch this video on the internet. Type ‘Lifeline 2005’ into the youtube search engine
 or follow the link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdu3hvq_rQw

Please make a donation to my project via www.justgiving.com/lauracrowther (remember to gift aid it).

Tell your friends to do the above, email them the links, get them enthused.

Join my facebook group, and get your friends to join it too.

Organise a fundraising event, such as charity come dine with me, a coffee morning, a bring and buy,
an auction or any other way you can.

Become a member of the charity, visit the website http://www.vao.org.uk/

Donate used spectacles to the charity, you can take them to any vision express opticians, and donate
them for free.

Let me know if you have a social group where I could do a presentation, for example a
church group, a sports club, golf club, or work event.  

Thanks for your time, maybe together we can make a difference to people’s lives!

Laura Crowther
Optometrist

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Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving –

they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly

to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s

the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.


Good luck Laura & best wishes Valerie & Ronnie Donation by Valerie Stansfield 23/10/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck matey. Hope you have an amazing experience!x Donation by Chris Maskell 18/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done Laura! I bet your Dad gets you to promote Customer Service while you're there! Donation by Pamela Andrew, npower 17/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

With thanks to Nick and Judith Crowther Donation by Laura Crowther 14/09/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Donation by Denise Hampson 11/09/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Laura, hope everything goes well! Donation by Peter Susan & Rebecca Charles 10/09/09  

Laura - a great opportunity for you and a very worthwhile cause. Donation by Steven & Jillian Graham 31/08/09  

Good luck with everything, hope it goes well!xxx Donation by Rachael 28/08/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

It'll be a great experience as well as a most worthwhile one. Enjoy it! Donation by Richard & Anne Wade 25/08/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

All the luck in the world pal. Shame you can't take the optomap with you x Donation by Lara Hefson 21/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Thanks to Iris and John Hamer, Sue Newcombe and Dave and Margaret Chirgwin Donation by Laura Crowther 17/08/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Good luck with your trip. We shall look forward to hearing all about it. Donation by John and Jo Shaw 14/08/09  

Good luck with your project and take care Donation by gillian mitchell 11/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

With best wishes Donation by Martin, Judith and Gemma Richardson 04/08/09  

Hi Laura, Good Luck raising your target. It's a great cause. Donation by Janet` Turner 03/08/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Well done Laura - what a difference you will make! Hope you enjoy the experience! Donation by Dean & Cath Atkins 02/08/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hope it helps a little bit! Sounds like an amazing cause. Hope you enjoy the experience too! Donation by Emily C 27/07/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Laura. Donation by helen corfe 15/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Dear Laura, you always put so much effort and generosity into everything you do. Very proud of you and wishing you every success.lots of love Donation by Ruth 15/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Keep up the hard work Laura. Vision is an asset we have that has no price. Donation by Saty Mukherjee 14/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

To our darling daughter, we are so proud of what you are achieving for such a worthy cause. Mum and I wish you every success. Love Mum and Dad Donation by Mike Crowther 08/07/09  

£300.00 + £84.62 Gift Aid
Donate now
 
* Total raised online: £860.00
  Offline donations: £1,348.50
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £242.56

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Find out how much it is and what we do for it.