Support for Light up Lives appeal hits target

The incredible response of supporters to our Light up Lives gift-match appeal earlier this year has enabled CBM UK to secure all of the £125,000 match funding pledged by a group of generous funders. The funds raised will enable people with treatable blindness in the world’s poorest places to see again through sight-restoring surgery, eye treatments and glasses.

Every day, people living in the world’s poorest places become needlessly blind because of conditions that could be easily treated, like cataracts. And too often, if you live in a poor community, losing your sight also means losing the chance to go to school, live independently or earn a living. For those living on the edge, the impact is devastating – whole families pushed deeper into poverty and hunger. 

Lena (pictured above), a grandmother from Zimbabwe, had to move in with her sister’s family after cataracts in both of her eyes left her blind. She struggled to care for herself and  lost her livelihood and worried that she’d never be able to pay for her youngest daughter to finish her education.  She told us:

“I miss doing my own work from farming, gardening, sewing, knitting and all else that I have mentioned above. It really hurts me to know that I can’t sew my children’s undone hems anymore. It is quite inconveniencing for both me and the person who is assisting me because they have to stop whatever it is they are doing to help you or they will attend to you when they are done with their own work.”

“All I do is long for the old days where I was independent…I now spend my days seated like this”

Thanks to generous supporters like you, Lena had surgery at our partner hospital in Zimbabwe. Speaking at the hospital on the day of her operation, Lena said:

“I am feeling happy. I would just like to say thank you, God! I will be able to move around on my own and be able to do things for myself.”

Lena’s eyesight has now been restored – she can see again and work towards her dream of providing for her children’s future.

Thank you for your generous support to restore sight and Light up Lives!

Photo: ©CBM-Afriphotos