We are participating in the Prudential Ride London Event, to raise much needed funds to pay for Eye Health Education Presentations at primary schools throughout Hampshire for Open Sight.

Open Sight Hampshire is the county's principal organisation providing a lifetime of support to visually impaired people of all ages, their families and associates and delivers expertise in every aspect of sight loss.

We are aiming to raise £6,000 to fund the Eye Health Education scheme, run by Open Sight Hampshire, which helps schools identify children who could need treatment for sight conditions as well as educating children about sight loss. The scheme informs children about the importance of protecting eyes from the sun, having regular eye tests, eating vegetables and exercising regularly as well as the detrimental effects of smoking.

The riding team members are Pete Ross, Lee Goosey for Open Sight and Partner & Head of Major Trauma,Trevor Sterling, James Piers, and Julian Phillips for Moore Blatch.

Pete says: "Both myself and Lee wear glasses so we understand the importance of having regular eye tests and check-ups. Knowing that around one in four children start school with an undetected sight condition, which may be detrimental to their ability to learn is a scary thought!"

Maya Sushila, Partner in the Moore Blatch Medical negligence team, says: “It is estimated that 2.2 billion people around the world have a visual impairment, of which at least 1 billion have a visual impairment that could have been avoided, or is yet to be addressed. Our firm works for clients who have suffered avoidable eye sight loss, and we are very aware of the impact this can have. Moore Blatch are proud to support Open Sight’s Eye Health Education Scheme which promotes awareness, early diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions.”

The money we raise will help fund the delivery of the scheme to more than 12,000 children and their families at 48 schools across Hampshire.

Below is a real-life story that Open Sight Hampshire shared with us which has been our inspiration to participate in the cycle challenge: -

For one little girl a talk at her school was life changing, as her mother Sarah Spurr
recalls;

“In 2015 Open Sight Hampshire visited my daughter’s school, Kings Copse Primary School.  I work as a teaching assistant and was in class when you were talking to the children about how to keep our eyes healthy.  One of the points discussed was the importance of regular eye sight tests.  I made an appointment for myself and my daughters to have our eyes tested.  The optician diagnosed my daughter, aged 5, with very poor sight in one of her eyes and referred her to the eye hospital for further tests.  If it hadn’t been for your visit I wouldn’t have thought to take all of for a test, so thank you.  I am pleased to say that at our last appointment at the eye hospital her sight is improving, and both eyes are now working together.

Incidentally our story, told at the school gates, has encouraged several others to go to the opticians.  I can think of at least two other children that are also now wearing glasses!”

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