Shoppers urged to see Specsavers charity cycle

SHOPPERS are encouraged to drop into the Specsavers store on Grafton Street this Saturday (June 7) to show their support as the staff embark on a 5,600kms static cycle in aid of charity.

Specsavers has selected Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin as its national charity of the year, and to kick off the partnership, Specsavers Grafton Street along with stores nationwide, have committed to cycling the circumference of Ireland (5,600kms).

Last year, 43,779 children from Co Dublin attended Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, equating to an average 120 admittances each day.

With Specsavers aiming to raise

?¬100,000 over the coming months, Specsavers Grafton Street will be quite literally putting their wheels in motion on Saturday as they hold a static cycle in-store to raise funds.

Shoppers are invited to drop in on the day and show their support as the team aims to complete their 120km section.

Johann Fox, Head of Corporate Partnerships at the Children’s Medical & Research Foundation, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin said:

“To achieve success in any business requires planning, hard work and a commitment to excellence at every step along the way.

“Specsavers was named Ireland’s Most Trusted Optician last year and they have chosen to do something truly fantastic that showcases this status.

“Using their skills, they have chosen to support the children who travel daily from every part of Ireland to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

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She added:

“The funds raised by Specsavers staff and customers will have an immediate impact in the ophthalmology unit for children and their families they will never know but this impact will be long-lasting.

“We are truly thankful to be named as a partner for 2014 and look forward to working with every single staff member and their customers from within those very communities that our children attend.

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Seamus Breslin, the Director of Specsavers Grafton Street, added:

“We are delighted to be working with Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin as our Specsavers Ireland charity of the year.

“We have always admired the fantastic work it does for children across Ireland. The idea of a static cycle covering the distance around Ireland was born out of desire to get all of our staff members really involved with the fundraising process.

“We hope that through their fantastic commitment, and the support of our customers, that we can achieve our goal of raising

?¬100,000.

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Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin has been providing a high standard of care to the 130,000 children availing its services every year since it first opened its doors in 1956.

The Department of Ophthalmology at the hospital, Crumlin, for which Specsavers is fundraising for improvement, typically diagnoses and treats over 10,000 patients annually.

The service provides care to children suffering from common eye conditions, such as squints, which if left untreated can result in sight problems.

In addition the service offers evaluation and treatment of other complex eye conditions such as congenital cataract, congenital glaucoma and visual problems associated with neurological disease.

The department was expanded in 2006 with the addition of two additional clinical examination rooms and a patient waiting area.

For further information visit www.olchc.ie and for updates on Specsavers fundraising and upcoming events, become a fan on www.facebook.com/specsaversireland.