Volunteers Peter and Gill Godber marked an incredible milestone this year – 20 years of volunteering for CBM UK – with an event called ‘Love Your Eyes’ to celebrate World Sight Day!
Love Your Eyes: A musical celebration for World Sight Day
Posted on:
Thursday, October 16th, 2025
Held on Sunday at Heathlands House Care Home in Cambridge, part of Care UK group, the event brought together residents, families, staff and supporters for a musical afternoon tea party for World Sight Day. The event featured performances by award-winning pianist James Williams, a raffle with prizes donated by over 20 local businesses, and plenty of tea and cake.
In total, around 40 guests attended, raising over £500 to support CBM UK’s life-changing work preventing blindness and transforming the lives of people with disabilities in some of the world’s poorest places. In a wonderful gesture, Heathlands House Care Home has pledged to match the amount raised, doubling the impact of the event.
For Peter Godber, the event carried special meaning. Diagnosed with dementia in 2017, Peter has been playing the piano since the age of four and served for many years as a Church Organist at a Dementia-friendly church. Alongside Gill, he has spent two decades advocating for CBM UK, inspired by witnessing the life-changing impact of CBM’s work firsthand during visits to Tanzania and Vietnam.
“Being a volunteer with CBM UK gives me the chance to learn new skills and re-kindle some old ones. I also enjoy the opportunities to connect with like-minded people that volunteering with CBM provides,” said Gill Godber.
“The ‘Peter’s Wish’ Musical Tea Party enabled staff, residents, relatives and the community to come together at Heathlands House and enjoy beautiful piano music, a raffle, tea and cake. It was a great success.”
Pianist James Williams added:
“I am delighted to be part of the celebration of World Sight Day again this year, and to showcase the music of a great blind composer, Louis Vierne. From experience within my own family and work, I know just how important it is for visually impaired people to get appropriate support and medical care – hard enough to access in countries like the UK, but even harder in some of the world’s poorest countries. Many incidences of sight loss are avoidable with the right interventions, so I hope more people will give generously to charities like CBM UK, which enable thousands of people to keep their eyes healthy and enjoy a safer life.”
“The afternoon was a true reflection of Gill’s and Peter’s compassion, dedication and lifelong commitment to helping others. It was, in every sense, a celebration of music, love and hope – and of the difference one couple can make over twenty remarkable years of service,” said Mark Housden, CBM UK’s Head of Fundraising.
To find out more or donate, please visit: http://www.justgiving.com/page/cbmloveyoureyes
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