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A thoughtful, and feel-good gift idea for a friend, that will contribute in helping to save sight, lives and livelihoods for millions in less developed countries.

Sight is the sense that we fear loosing the most. A child that goes blind in developing countries is twice as likely to die before his or her 13th birthday. There are over 37 million blind in the world and this is increasing by some 2 million each year. Surprisingly, some 75% of impending blindness is curable or treatable if diagnosed and treated in time … which in most cases its not.

The Rotarians Ophthalmoscope Initiative or ROI operates under the umbrella of VISION 2020, THE RIGHT TO SIGHT, in association with Sightsavers International and other global eye-care charities. For just £27.50 you can donate this global award winning UK manufactured OptyseTM lens free ophthalmoscope … and leave Stevenage Grange Rotary Club and Sightsavers to handle global distribution to the most needed areas. In just 5 months since is started ROI units are already operating in 31 developing countries.

So, if you stuck for an idea and wish to make a difference why not think about making a donation and present or send a certificate of donation. Now that would be different.

By doing so, not only will you provide an ophthalmoscope that literally can be used in the field, but you will also free up scarce charitable resources to undertake more cataract and similar operations.

So, if you would like to save sight and needless suffering for so many, why not contact your local Rotary Club, email stephen@sgrc.org or fill in the donation form on www.roisight.org/gift4sight where you will find lots more information.

A 10 minute video jointly narrated by former Prime Minister Sir John Major, VISION 2020, THE RIGHT TO SIGHT Ambassador, and novelist Ken Follett has been produced and can be downloaded as follows:

A low resolution version can be viewed from this link
http://www.roisight.org/Downloads/roishow-512kbps.wmv

A higher resolution version, for those with Broadband speeds above 1mbps can be obtained from this link
http://www.roisight.org/Downloads/roishow-1mbbps.wmv

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