Trafford News
Sale Specsavers duo head off to the Philippines
11:00am Wednesday 22nd February 2012
TWO Sale opticians are preparing to jet to the Philippines to help bring free eyecare to thousands of children living in deprived communities in Southeast Asia.
Iain Johnson and Jacqueline Choudhury, who both work at Specsavers in Market Walk, are to spend two and a half weeks in the country as part of a mission organised by Rotary Club International.
During that time, the pair – together with three other UK opticians – will test the sight and eye health of around 4,000 children, before fitting any who need them with free glasses.
Iain says: "We will be spending most of our time in rural schools and hospitals where there is no free eyecare and where even relatively minor problems or infections can ruin a child’s life by destroying their eyesight.
"For the first half of the trip, we will be testing as many children’s eyes as we can. That will mean trying to see around 10 times as many people in a day as we do in-store here in Sale, so it will be exhausting but rewarding work.
"There is a lab we can use in Manila so the second half of the trip will then be spent dispensing glasses using frames we’ve collected here in the UK and new lenses, and fitting them to anyone who needs them."
Iain, who is a dispensing optician at the Sale store, and optometrist Jacqueline, fly out later this month (February) and will spend time in Tanauan City, Lipa City and Lucena, which are in the province of Batangas in south-western Philippines.
To help fund the mission, all staff at Sale Specsavers have been working hard holding raffles and cake bakes.
To support their fundraising, or to book an appointment for an eye test, call Specsavers in Sale on 0161 969 2001 or drop into store. Alternatively visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/sale