The Fred Hollows Foundation is thanking the Whittlesea community for their ongoing support this year.
In 2024, the foundation saw 303 new donors from Whittlesea support their work, with 1204 locals in total donating $259,098, helping the charity restore sight to people living with avoidable blindness around the world.
Demonstrating community spirit, Victorians have donated $9,692,070 so far this year.
Founding Director Gabi Hollows expressed her gratitude to the Whittlesea 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,” she 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 Whittlesea for allowing us to carry on Fred’s vision of ending avoidable blindness.”
Chansouk, an imaginative girl from Laos, regained her sight thanks to life changing surgery.
At the mere age of two, she was on the verge of blindness after suffering from a traumatic eye injury from a nearby fire.
Chansouk’s family reached out for help at Oudomxay Eye Hospital, where Dr Senglar Laosern—who was trained by the foundation—diagnosed her with a cataract in her right eye.
Dr Laosern and visiting physician Dr Phatoumphone—who was also trained by the foundation—successfully performed surgery on Chansouk, bringing joy to both her and her mother Nam.
Now nine years old, Chansouk is passionate about math and aspires to become a doctor, inspired by Dr Laosern.
In Victoria, the foundation partners with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) to provide culturally appropriate eye care.
For more information about The Fred Hollows Foundation or to help restore sight, visit www.hollows.org or call 1800 352 352.
To watch Chansouk’s story, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=msA1QNBp7BQ.
