We all know Specsavers with the catchy adverts stating that people “should have gone to Specsavers.” But did you know that the optician’s 640 commercial properties do more to help people to see and have independence than you may think?
Since 2009, staff at stores around the UK have actively been involved in fundraising, gathering donations and completing sponsored events to raise money for Guide Dogs – the company’s partner charity. Their efforts over the last three years have raised in excess of £150,000.
Director of Fundraising at Guide Dogs, Jayne George, spoke of how much the charity relies on donations, as they do not receive any Government help: “We have one aim at Guide Dogs: to get blind and partially sighted people mobile, living a full and independent life.
“The guide dog service does not receive any government funding and relies entirely on our supporters to fund this vital service.”
The company have pledged to raise a further £100,000 by the end of the year, which will help the charity to train guide dog puppies and raise awareness of the struggles that blind people have just going about their everyday lives.
Speaking of their support to Guide Dogs, Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers, said: “Through our network of more than 640 optical stores nationwide we have been fortunate enough to support this incredible charity as our national partner and help them provide this invaluable service to the blind and partially sighted.
“We hope to raise £250,000 by the end of this year and I’m pleased to say that thanks to the charity’s support our stores have already raised more than £150,000.”
Jayne added: “Our partnership with Specsavers is incredibly important and it is with great thanks to the generosity of employees and customers that we are able to support even more blind and partially sighted people to enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else.”
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