Thousands raised for blind Tibetans

MIRANDA ANTHISTLE
A&E REPORTER

Robyn Landau (middle) and Sarah State (right) sell cupcakes. (Courtesy)

Three public relations students at Humber raised more than $3,000 in three weeks, in order to shed light on a country that has the highest rate of blindness in the world.

Robyn Landau, Sarah State, and Kaitlynn Dodge make up one of 20 teams from across Canada that entered a national contest put on by Love In Action, a non-for-profit organization whose goal is to raise $25,000 to build a micro-surgery eye camp in Tibet.
“It’s for such a great cause,” said Dodge, 23. “All of us are really excited to be able to contribute to something that will be sustainable and have longevity.”
Many Tibetans suffer from blindness due to the country’s high altitude and sun exposure, but with a simple $50 procedure, 75 per cent of people could regain their eyesight.
Doctors perform cataract surgeries to treat preventable blindness and cataract blindness in patients.
Seva Canada is the organization responsible for performing the cataract surgery, which takes less than 15 minutes to complete.
Landau, State, and Dodge created the website www.RealSightKeepers.com as a way to accept donations and to promote their initiatives.
They organized a fundraising dinner held at O.Noir, a restaurant where patrons dine in complete darkness.
First-semester public relations student Sarah Long, 23, said she was inspired by the event.
“We experienced what it’s like to be blind and at the end, we were led back out into the light. It was like a metaphor for how our donations are giving people in Tibet a chance to see again.”
Toronto native Theresa Laurico, founder and executive director of Love In Action, said it’s most fulfilling for her to see young leaders in action making a global impact.
When the contest ends, the Real Sight Keepers will continue to keep its website and interest active in the Tibetan cause, said Dodge.
“These clinics will continue to be built and there is always a continuous need so it’s definitely in the realm of possibility to make this an annual event.”