A Million Miracles

I wrote a little while ago what my sight means to me. 

Eye health an eye issues are prevalent in our family.  Later this afternoon myself and Ruby are off to the opticians to get our regular check-up and to have digital retina photography to check on our eye health.  She is under a specialist doctor because of issues with her eye muscles.  My grandmother has recently had eye surgery, there are cataracts in our family and our uncle has been registered blind for many, many years.  So we're well aware of the importance of sight, and conscious of how lucky we are in this country to have a health service and support to look after us.

Many other people in the world are not so lucky.

Charity SightSavers are launching a new campaign called A Million Miracles to raise £30million in order to deliver 1 million cataract operations in some of the poorest parts of the world.  80% of blindness could be prevented or cured. 

The ‘Million Miracles’ launch event is an innovative, live digital storytelling event that will, via LIVE Google Hangouts from Malawi, Africa and traditional media & other social media channels, take the global audience on an emotional and inspiring journey.

You'll meet Mr Winesi who, due to bilateral cataracts, has been totally blind for two years. He has never seen his grandson Luca, and misses seeing his beautiful wife Namaleta. He can no longer work and provide for his family. In a few months their food stores will run out and they will go hungry as he is unable to work.

It needn't be this way. All it takes is a 5 minute operation that costs £30 pounds to change his life, and the lives of his family.

Join us on the 8th October at 1.30 UK time as one of the few cataract surgeons in Malawi delivers the 5 minute life-changing operation. Hosted by UK YouTuber star Doug Armstong you'll meet the Mr Winesi, and all the health worker heroes delivering this vital work. Click here at 1.30 to watch live.

Then join us on the 9th October at 1.30 UK time as we removed the bandages and Mr Winesi can see for the very first time. He will be able to see his wonderful wife, and hold and see his grandson Luca for the very first time.

Malawi has just 1 eye surgeon for every 4.25 million people and Dr Gerald, who is performing the surgery on Mr Winesi, is the only paediatric surgeon in the whole of Malawi.

Using satellite technology to broadcast live from rural Malawi this project will push the boundaries in live storytelling.

Please join us and follow Sightsavers on Twitter @Sightsavers and on Facebook and watch the live broadcast on G+.