Downton Abbey Star Penelope Wilton appeals to save children's sight

We are thrilled to announce that actress Penelope Wilton (Downton Abbey, Calendar Girls, Ever Decreasing Circles) will be presenting a BBC Radio 4 appeal on behalf of CBM UK, raising funds to save children’s sight in Tanzania, East Africa.

“It is shocking to think that children in East Africa are going blind because they can’t afford a simple operation that, in the UK, we treat as routine”, explains Penelope.

“I can’t imagine what it must be like to see your child losing their sight – to see them struggling to learn, to play, to explore the world. And if you’re living in poverty in a country like Tanzania, where keeping your child safe and healthy is already a struggle, it must be truly terrifying because in poor communities losing your sight too often means losing the chance to go to school or to earn a living as an adult. That’s why I’m pleased to be supporting CBM’s work saving children’s sight in Tanzania by presenting their BBC Radio 4 Appeal. I hope you’ll listen and support this vital work. “

Donations to CBM’s BBC Radio 4 appeal will help to identify and treat children with eye problems in Tanzania early, so that their sight can be saved.

to half of childhood blindness can be avoided if a child is treated early in life for diseases or conditions like cataracts. Some children are born with cataracts, or develop them early in life. The condition can be treated with simple surgery, costing less than £100, but many families living in poverty in Tanzania don’t know treatment is available, cannot afford it, or can’t travel many hours to the nearest specialist clinic.

Penelope’s appeal will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 19th June at 7.55am and 9.26pm and on Thursday 23rd June at 3.27pm. It will also be available to listen to at: bbc.co.uk/radio4/appeal (open link in new tab).



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