The Fred Hollows Foundation is thanking the Yarra Ranges community for their continued generosity and support this year.
In 2024, The Foundation has seen 109 new donors from the Yarra Ranges support their work, with 1042 locals in total donating $300,248, helping the charity restore sight to people living with avoidable blindness around the world.
Demonstrating their community spirit, Victorians have donated an incredible $9,692,070 so far this year.
Founding director Gabi Hollows expressed her gratitude to the Yarra Ranges community for supporting the foundation’s important work.
“Unfortunately, avoidable blindness is increasing globally, but we know that nine out of 10 cases of blindness and vision impairment are preventable or treatable,” Gabi said.
“We can do something about it. The Fred Hollows Foundation has restored sight to more than three million people and we won’t stop until we achieve our mission of ending avoidable blindness. We wouldn’t be able to restore sight to as many people here in Australia and around the world without the generosity of our community.
“Thank you to the people of the Yarra Ranges for allowing us to carry on Fred’s vision of ending avoidable blindness.”
Chansouk, an imaginative girl from Lao PDR, regained her sight thanks to life changing surgery.
When she was just two years old, she was on the verge of blindness after suffering from a traumatic eye injury from a nearby fire.
Chansouk’s family sought help at Oudomxay Eye Hospital, where Dr Senglar Laosern, who was trained by the foundation, diagnosed her with cataract in her right eye.
With only four eye doctors for every million people in Lao PDR, many children like Chansouk remain untreated.
Dr Senglar and visiting physician Dr Phatoumphone, who was also trained by the foundation, performed successful surgery on Chansouk, bringing joy to her mother Nam.
“I would like to thank all the nurses and doctors, and The Fred Hollows Foundation,” she said.
Now aged nine, Chansouk loves maths and dreams of becoming a doctor, just like Dr Senglar.
Chansouk’s sight restoration journey highlights the critical need for eye care in Lao PDR and the life-changing impact it can have on young lives.
In Victoria, the foundation partners with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) to provide culturally appropriate eye care.
Last year, the foundation performed more than 4.3 million eye screenings, distributed more than 6.8 million doses of antibiotics for trachoma and ran education sessions for more than 5.6 million adults and children globally.
For more information about The Fred Hollows Foundation or to help restore sight, visit hollows.org or call 1800 352 352.
Watch Chansouk’s story here: youtube.com/watch?v=msA1QNBp7BQ
