Beautiful things happen when a community comes together. That was the spirit behind A Night for Sight, hosted by Hello Poppy at Bellevue Café, Durban in support of the Eye Wish Foundation.
In South Africa, many people without access to private medical aid wait years for cataract operations. Through the incredible work of the Eye Wish Foundation, headed up by Dr. Katie Rafferty, deserving patients are given the opportunity to receive life changing surgery for free.
This presented as a wonderful opportunity for Hello Poppy to collaborate with another non-profit organisation, in a shared mission to improve the well-being of our elders. Receiving the gift of renewed sight not only improves the physical health of elders, but creates amazing opportunities for improved connection, purpose, dignity, and joy.
The Hello Poppy team kicked into action, and set the goal to raise enough money to restore the sight of 4 deserving elderly patients.
Thanks to the generous support of a long-list of sponsors, donors, and guests who attended the Night for Sight, the campaign was able to exceed all expectations and raise enough money for 11 cataract operations.
After much anticipation and great excitement, on the 24 July the Eye Wish Foundation and Dr. Rafferty and her team at the Johannesburg Eye Hospital were able to give 11 deserving patients the gift of sight.
Through this special collaboration, the deserving elders were given the priceless gift of restored sight, and the opportunity to be able to connect with their community, purpose, and joy in ways that will no doubt feed their emotional well-being.
When a community comes together, kindness and hope becomes something you can really see.