Local community helps fund critical surgery

THE Fred Hollows Foundation is thanking the Mount Gambier community for their support during a challenging time for the international development sector.

Over the past 12 months, The Foundation has seen 10 new donors from Mount Gambier support their work. In total 128 people from Mount Gambier have donated $42,832 in the past year, helping continue the late Professor Fred Hollows’ vision of ending avoidable blindness.

Eveline, a young mother from Kenya’s Siaya County received the life-changing gift of sight, along with her children – two-year-old Vincent and seven-year-old Ruth.

For Eveline and her husband Boniface, their future seemed hopeless, with blindness affecting Eveline’s ability to work and their children’s education.

Thanks to supporters of The Fred Hollows Foundation, all three underwent cataract surgery, regaining not just their vision but also their independence.

Ruth is now thriving in school, Vincent can run and play like any other child, and Eveline has regained her ability to provide for the family.

“The miraculous vision has brought us more than just clear sight – it has brought us hope, joy and a brighter future,” said Boniface.

This extraordinary transformation highlights the power of sight-restoring surgery, proving that generosity and accessible eye care can rewrite lives.

Founding Director Gabi Hollows expressed her gratitude to the Mount Gambier community for supporting The Foundation’s important work.

“In these challenging times marked by rising costs of living, ongoing conflict, and increasing division, I want to take a moment to reflect on the countless people whose lives have been transformed after having their sight restored thanks to the generosity of everyday Australians.

“Fred used to say that we discover our own humanity when we help others. Every donation, big or small, is a step towards a world where no person is needlessly blind.

“It could be a mother returning to the workforce, a grandparent seeing their grandchild for the first time, or a child being able to go to school. Thank you, Mount Gambier, for your generosity in helping us restore sight to those who need it most,” Gabi said.

In South Australia, The Foundation partners with several organisations to improve access to eye care in regional areas including the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.

This year, The Foundation aims to perform 3.8 million eye screenings, distribute 12.8 million doses of antibiotics for trachoma, and run community health education sessions for 1.2 million adults and children globally.

For more information about The Fred Hollows Foundation or to help restore sight, visit www.hollows.org or call 1800 352 352.

Watch Eveline, Ruth and Vincent’s story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1POeIXCaIuE