Sightsavers is launching Specs Appeal 2016, a celebrity eBay auction stocked with more than 100 pairs of glasses and sunglasses donated by famous faces.
Among the more than 50 celebrities involved are actress Meryl Streep, Beatle Ringo Starr, pop sensations Annie Lennox, will.i.am and Rita Ora, Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Robbie Coltrane and style icons Kate Moss and Vivienne Westwood, with shoppers having the chance to bag a unique Christmas present for a loved one. Or for themselves.
The glasses are available on eBay from Friday 25 November – Monday 5 December.
All funds raised will help Sightsavers carry out eye tests in some of the world’s poorest places, and distribute specs to those who need them.
Sightsavers ambassador and actress, Sunetra Sarker, has given a pair of glasses and has also seen the work of Sightsavers in India. She says: “I’m supporting Sightsavers because, if it can help just one person to see again, then it’s worth it.”
Sir Tony Robinson, who has donated a pair of reading glasses, says: “I want to give someone a chance to see more clearly and look as cool in my glasses as I did”.
Stephen Fry's iconic tortoiseshell glasses came with a note saying “We all need to see more clearly”.
He’s right. Worldwide there are an estimated 124 million people who need glasses. In developing countries where the problem is most acute, it can be a challenge for people to get their eyes tested or buy a pair of glasses. Often this is due to there being too few ophthalmologists, not enough equipment or the fact that people simply can’t afford prescription lenses. Not having glasses effectively renders people blind or visually impaired. This impacts their livelihoods, families, schooling and quality of life.
To find out more about the auction, click here.
