Eyespace and Essilor team up for September charity campaign

Eyewear company Eyespace has joined forces with Essilor’s Crizal UV Protective Lens division, to support the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT), as September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and National Eye Health Week.

In addition to fundraising initiatives which will be undertaken by people within the Eyespace team, throughout September the company will donate 10p to CHECT for every order it receives. (Pictured are Eyespace’s Rock Star children’s frames).

Essilor has pledged to match the donation for every order taken by Eyespace from its Crizal UV Protective Lens customers.

CHECT is a UK-based charity for families and individuals affected by the rare eye cancer, retinoblastoma. It offers support, funds research and raises awareness of the disease among the general public and medical professionals.

Eyespace’s new charity initiative follows a successful social media partnership with CHECT during Optrafair in April.

Optometrist and joint managing director of Eyespace, Jayne Abel, explained: “Protecting the sight of future generations is a cause I hold particularly close, and Childhood Eye Cancer Trust is a charity that is important to us all at Eyespace.

“I’m a mother of three and during my time working in practice and in hospital eye departments, I came across a couple of cases of retinoblastoma. For children of such a young age, they were particularly heart-wrenching discoveries.

“I firmly believe that, as professionals we play an increasingly poignant role in the early detection of cancers, so we should be doing everything we possibly can to improve diagnosis rates.”

Ms Abel added: “45% of the children who develop retinoblastoma have a genetic form of the disease, so the work of CHECT is really vital in understanding more about its heritable links and in saving young lives. Furthermore, retinoblastoma is one of the less common cancers of childhood and in the majority of cases develops in children of pre-school age, so we want to do all we can to help raise money and awareness of this extraordinary charity.”

Marketing growth manager at Essilor, Tracy Burden, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Eyespace to raise funds for CHECT this September. It means that opticians choosing their frames and our Crizal UV Protective Lenses are doing much more than providing their patient with incredible quality products and ultimate protection.

“By simply placing their orders with Eyespace they will be contributing to critical research into retinoblastoma and childhood cancer prevention. We hope to raise a lot of money for this very worthwhile cause together.”

CHECT chief executive, Joy Felgate, said: “CHECT is delighted to be working with Eyespace and Essilor during September. Optical professionals play an indispensable role in helping to spot this rare childhood eye cancer and facilitate the necessary urgent referral, which can save a child’s eye and sight.

“We also thank them both for the fantastic fundraising commitment which will help us to support families and continue vital research.”

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month runs throughout September and National Eye Health Week takes place from 21–27 September.