All 45 of Specsavers’ Western Australian stores have joined forces to raise money for the Princess Margaret Hospital’s (PMH) ophthalmology department. Through a vote, it was decided that the hospital was the cause the stores most strongly wanted to support through the Specsavers Community Program charity takeover.
Since April 2017, the stores have been raising money for the hospital’s ophthalmology department in-store through the Community Program local charity donation boxes. They will also be hosting a variety of other initiatives, such as a fundraising day on 24 June, which will see $5 donated from every eye test conducted on the day.
Another opportunity to raise funds will take place on 8 July at a charity ball, which will be attended by all WA Specsavers stores and include an auction and raffle, with prizes donated from stores.
PMH’s ophthalmology department is the only tertiary provider of paediatric eye services in WA. The department services the entire state with 250,000 patient visits each year. Funds donated will be used to care for children who have been diagnosed with serious eye health conditions.
Denys Pearce, CEO of Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (formerly PMH Foundation), said, “We are very grateful to the Specsavers WA store partners and the generous support of their customers. Their donations will allow us to make a real and meaningful difference to the lives of children suffering from serious eye health issues.”
Speaking on behalf of the WA stores, Specsavers Albany store partner Katherine Hegarty said, “We are thrilled to give Specsavers customers the opportunity to help us give back to the children’s hospital through the Specsavers Community Program. We donate this money from our own pockets so we want it to go towards something we have a real passion for, which is why all stores in WA decided to choose our charity takeover partner based on a vote. The work the PMH ophthalmology department does is indispensable for children who have been diagnosed with serious illness.”
The hospital’s ophthalmology department cares for children ranging from premature babies up to adolescents aged 18. A wide range of eye conditions are treated, including retinopathy of prematurity, strabismus, eye complications from juvenile chronic arthritis and diabetes, ocular tumours, cancer treatment, eye injuries, and other retinal issues that young children may face.
The Specsavers Community Program raises funds for selected local charities chosen by stores, and The Fred Hollows Foundation, by providing customers with a token for each pair of glasses purchased at Specsavers. Customers can then use the token to select which charity they would like to support and a subsequent donation is made by the store out of the store partners’ own pockets.
