Cambridge MP endorses Light up Lives appeal

Daniel Zeichner, Member of Parliament for Cambridge, has voiced his support for our Light up Lives appeal, which aims to prevent blindness in the world’s poorest places by enabling people to access sight-saving surgery, eye treatments and glasses.

“I was shocked to learn that 90% of vision loss around the world could be prevented or treated – every day, people are becoming needlessly blind because eye health services are out of reach. And in poorer parts of the world, losing your sight too often means losing the chance to go to school or earn a living. It’s a vicious cycle of poverty and disability that international disability charity CBM, based in Cambridge, is working to break.

I’m delighted to support CBM’s ‘Light up Lives’ appeal, improving access to sight-saving treatment, preventing blindness and restoring sight. Until 20 May, every pound donated to the appeal will be doubled by the UK government through the fantastic UK Aid Match scheme. It’s wonderful to see so many Cambridge individuals and organisations getting behind this worthy cause; ‘Light up Lives’ is a great example of how UK aid, UK charities and the British public can work together to create opportunity and transform lives for some of the most marginalised people in the world.”

We’re thrilled to also have the support of Cambridgeshire churches, businesses and organisations, including Great St Mary’s church in central Cambridge who are helping raise awareness and funds to restore sight and Light up Lives through congregation collections, online fundraising and articles in their weekly newsletter.

Margaret Johnston, Great St Mary’s church, says: 

“We are proud to be partnering with CBM for their new Light Up Lives campaign to help restore sight and transform lives in the world’s poorest places, bringing new life and hope to so many.”

Your donation will Light Up Lives by enabling people living needlessly blind in the world’s poorest places to access sight-saving treatments and see again. Find out more about LIght Up Lives here (open link in new tab).

Until 20th May 2021, the UK government will double donations to our Light up Lives appeal, up to £2 million. Public donations will support CBM’s work preventing blindness and transforming lives wherever the need is greatest. Match funding from the UK government will improve access to sight-saving eye-health services in Zimbabwe.

Image: Top – Yudaya (70) smiling after a successful cataract operation on her left eye, at a CBM-supported hospital in Uganda. Bottom – Light up Lives poster displays outside and inside Great St Mary’s Church in Cambridge.