WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Glaucoma Awareness Appeal 2011
To make a donation click here
List of Participants PDF
Press Release PDF | Glaucoma Questions & Answers PDF
Appeal Highlights:
Free Glaucoma Screening Campaign for July
Newspaper editorial about Optometrist Michael White's Whakatane practice hosting a successful free Glaucoma Screening campaign for the month of July.
WHAKATANE BEACON - "Glaucoma suspects discovered" - 29 July 2011 (Link)
Frederickswain Optometrists, Napier - July window display
Fundraising Walk for Glaucoma NZ
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Doug Wilson (President of the Western Bay of Plenty Grey Power Association) has undertaken a walk from Cape Rienga to Stewart Island, with the aim of raising awareness for Glaucoma. Doug estimates it will take him about 55 days to complete the journey of approximately 2025 kilometres, stopping off along the way to talk to various groups about Glaucoma. Grey Power & RSA members have come forward to offer him accommodation along the way, and in case emergency accommodation is needed, he is carrying a tent with his very weighty pack.
Doug (aged 75) was himself diagnosed with Glaucoma in 2010, and this has been the impetus behind his fundraising efforts. He has been in training for the journey by walking 15-20km (with nordic poles), combined with a 1.5 hour gym session and a 45 minute swim daily. All this after being laid low with a virus which hospitalised him only weeks ago.
Helen Mawn from the Glaucoma NZ office caught up with Doug at the Intercity bus terminal in Auckland on Friday 24th June as he waited to board a north-bound bus to begin his walk. Fellow travellers in the waiting area, had already shown goodwill by making a donation and an offer of accommodation in Kaitaia.
Watch out for Doug as he passes through your town and give him a warm welcome!
Read more about Doug's journey through local newspaper articles:
NORTHERN ADVOCATE - "Walk puts focus on glaucoma" - 4 July 2011 (PDF)
WHANGAREI LEADER - "Big strides in glaucoma fight" - 5 July 2011 (PDF)
SUNLIVE - "Charity walk to Bluff begins" - 20 July 2011 (PDF)
MALBOROUGH EXPRESS - "NZ-long walk to raise awareness" - 26 July 2011 (PDF)
ASHBURTON GUARDIAN - "Taking to the road with a cause" - 28 July 2011 (PDF)
TIMARU HERALD - "Doug's seeing his way south" - 29 July 2011 (PDF)
OAMARU MAIL - "Walker's glaucoma mission nears end" - 1 August 2011 (PDF)
SOUTHLAND TIMES - "Epic journey to shed light on glaucoma" - 4 August 2011 (PDF)
If you would like to show your support for Doug by making a donation to Glaucoma NZ please click here.
Other Newspaper Articles
Several newspaper articles were published during the course of the last year's July Glaucoma Awareness Appeal:
WESTERN LEADER - "Brush with Glaucoma" (PDF)
PHARMACY TODAY - "Encourage Patients To Be Glaucoma Aware" (PDF)
TAUPO TIMES - "John's Glaucoma Detected In Time" (PDF)
The ‘45 Plus 5’ Message
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Awareness on the Web
This year Glaucoma NZ wants to spread the word about glaucoma and blindness prevention by attracting as many visitors as possible to this website. If you have a suitable website at your place of work or sports club please consider adding a link to www.glaucoma.org.nz Contact admin@ glaucoma.org.nz if you woud like to include the Glaucoma NZ logo.
Awareness in the Workplace
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One effective way of sharing health information is through the work force. Many companies are genuinely concerned about the health and well being of their employees. If you are an employer or work for a forward thinking company that might be keen to inform workers about glaucoma and the '45plus5' message to preserve their sight please contact admin@glaucoma.org.nz to discuss ideas and how Glaucoma NZ can best work with you. |
Awareness and the General Practitioner
Glaucoma NZ is proud to be associated with a large group of general practioners who have registered with Glaucoma NZ to be kept up-to-date with glaucoma issues and developments. If your GP does not know of the Glaucoma NZ GP Education Support programme encourage them to visit www.glaucoma.org.nz for information and free registration.
