(Stock Photo)

Bill Tempro, a 75-year-old Barbadian sailor with impaired vision, will sail around Barbados singlehandedly on Sunday, October 13, to raise funds to upgrade the Lions Eye Care Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The Sail for Sight charity event, which has been endorsed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, hopes to raise $500,000 to improve eye care for all Barbadians.

The Sail for Sight Committee has outlined Mr. Tempro’s mission as to draw attention to the need for eye care in Barbados and to demonstrate that, even with impaired vision, difficult tasks can be accomplished.

The major cause of blindness in Barbados is glaucoma followed by cataract and retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusion and retinal detachment.

All three causes of visual impairment require surgical intervention, and therefore a priority for the committee is bringing the dedicated eye theatres located in the Centre into commission.

Donations to the Sail for Sight event may be made to the Barbados Sailing Association, the CIBC First Caribbean Bank, Warrens, St. Michael (account number 1000959560), and the Barbados Yacht Club. The Yacht Club may be contacted via e-mail at accounts@barbadosyachtclub.com or by calling 427-7318.

joy.springer@barbados.gov.bb

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