Specsavers in Rickmansworth raised £151 from £1 eye test donations in the run up to Rare Disease Day for Stargardt’s Connected.
Stargardt’s Connected is a charity set up by local Hertfordshire resident and customer Bhavna Tailor to raise awareness, create support networks and fund research of the disease.
Stargardt disease is an inherited progressive disease that affects the retina causing central vision loss. It currently has no treatment or cure which is why support is so crucial.
The fundraising was part of an initiative between the Hertfordshire Specsavers stores where they raised an incredible combined total of £4,349.
Bhavna set up the charity as her seven-year-old son Ethan was diagnosed four years ago with Stargardt disease.
Bhavna was devastated after Ethan’s diagnosis, but wanted to do something positive so she set up Stargardt’s Connected, the first Stargardt’s charity in the UK.
Ali Hashim, director of Rickmansworth Specsavers, says: ‘As a key part of the Rickmansworth community and as carers for local resident’s eye health, our store was keen to get behind the initiative to fundraise and raise awareness of Stargardt disease.’
The fundraiser was started by Ketan Patel, director at Waltham Cross Specsavers, having heard the story through his daughter who shares a class with Ethan, he wanted to take action.
Upon hearing about Ketan’s plan to fundraise, all of the Specsavers’s store directors in Hertfordshire wanted to get involved.
Bhavna says: ‘I am really grateful to Ketan for helping to push this through. I know he cares and understands the importance of raising awareness and the role he can play as an optician.’
You can also find out more information about Stargardt’s Connected here stargardtsconnected.org.uk/
0 Comments