Sights set on $500 000

CHARITY LOOKING TO RAISE FUNDS FOR EYE CARE CENTRE

For the first time ever, sailing and soca are on the same wavelength.

Two events, one sailing, and one soca oriented will be staged to help raise much-needed funds for the Lion’s Eye Care Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. A few good men and women have teamed up for the charitable cause which hopes to raise about $500, 000.

On October 5, some of the island’s finest entertainers will join the cause by staging the event billed Soca For Sight.

The cast includes Grynner, RPB, Edwin, Biggie Irie, Betty Payne, and The Red Boyz.

Then, on October 13, legally blind sailor 75-year-old Bill Tempro will sail around the island on a 47-foot yacht for the Sail for Sight event.
One of the organizers, John Roett, spoke to Bajan Vibes about the venture.

“Both Sail for Sight and Soca for Sight are to raise funds for The Lion’s Eye Care Centre which is badly in need of additional theatres and equipment so that the backlog of people who need surgery on their eyes can be eased. Every single cent goes towards the upgrading of the center.

It is one of the most worthy causes I have ever been a part of.

“I have a personal stake in it too because I had surgery on my eyes a couple of years ago which went south and I actually spent three days in hospital in that ward. They were absolutely amazing. The treatment, the care, the nurses, everything was absolutely stunning. For whatever time I have been in the hospital, I have found good people working under difficult circumstances.

“This will help so many people, so many children who need help, the elderly too who have cataract glaucoma who need surgery. I think every single family in this country probably has somebody who has difficulty with their eyes or wears glasses… If we can contemplate doubling and tripling the number of surgeries they can do, it is something that is worth every single person in this country being a part of.”

At present, the Department of Ophthalmology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital sees over 20, 000 outpatients annually, and many of these persons require surgery.

Soca For Sight tickets are a $50 donation. Corporate Barbados can contact The Barbados Yacht Club to rent spaces at Sail For Sight.

Those who cannot attend either event but still want to contribute can do so in the following ways: · Through GoFundMe: You can visit the website and make a donation https:// www.gofundme.com/f/sail-for-sight · By credit card: Credit card payments can be made through the Barbados Yacht Club. For more information contact Heather at The Yacht club, tel: 427-1125.

· Purchase your Sail For Sight t-shirt If you’d like to support Sail for Sight, you can purchase the official t-shirt for $30 from the Barbados Yacht Club.

· You can donate by bank transfer or deposit to Barbados Sailing Association CIBC First Caribbean International Bank Account Number: 1000959560 SWIFT Code: FCIBBBBB ·

By cheque: You can donate by cheque made out to The Barbados Sailing Association and deliver by hand or by post to:
The Barbados Sailing Association c/o Barbados Yacht Club Bay Street St Michael, BARBADOS (IMC)