Sunday, July 17, 2011

Oliver Fischer joins with Team Randy Kazandy to help Himalayan Cataract Project

Please join Oliver Fischer, multi-talented musician and medical student as he becomes a marathon runner in the San Francisco Marathon on July 31, 2011 to benefit the Himalayan Cataract Project. One of the many ways Whim publishing is helping with Oliver's cause to give sight to the blind is with this silent online auction. Please put your bid in for the signed books and art on this site. Contact info@whimpublishing.com

If you would like to donate $20.00 or more please visit the link below and join Team Randy by visiting this site:
http://www.crowdrise.com/sfcureblindness/fundraiser/OliverFischer

The small sum of dollars gives one person sight in the Himalayan Mountains where the sun is so potent that people develop full blown cataract at an early age. Please help. These people are in such poverty, most Americans cannot grasp the severity. Imagine being desperately poor AND blind. If that were you, wouldn't you want people to help?

HERE'S THE STORY AS OLIVER TELLS IT:
I'm running the San Francisco Marathon this year in an effort to raise money for the Himalayan Cataract Project. Four out of every five cases of blindness in the world could have been prevented with access to proper eye care. Care that is not expensive. A $20 donation will cover the costs of an operation to restore the sight of one individual. Imagine if a loved one was blind; a parent, a child, a grandparent. Now imagine for the price of one large pizza and wings, you have given the gift of sight! Please become a partner today in this most worthwhile cause.

HIMALAYAN CATARACT PROJECT INC wrote -

The Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP) has partnered with The San Francisco Marathon to raise awareness and funds for blindness in Ethiopia because the need for eye care is great. In the northern region of Tigray with a population of 5 million, the prevalence of blindness is 1.6%. The current surgical rate, approximately 6,000-7,000 cases per year, is merely keeping pace with the number of new cases. It is not sufficient to address the backlog of approximately 40,000. This is sobering given that Tigray has one of the highest surgical rates in the country.

“Future challenges are considerable but our opportunity to effect change in this region are massive. I met a large cadre of young, bright ophthalmologists and nurses eager for improved supplies, equipment, training, and to participate in outreach.”—Dr. Matt Oliva, HCP Board Member

The Himalayan Cataract Project started working in Ethiopia when it partnered with the Millennium Villages Project for a high-volume cataract intervention in Koraro, Ethiopia in 2007. Through that intervention HCP co-founder Dr. Tabin met Dr. Tilahun Kiros from Quiha Zonal Hospital in the northern region of Tigray. Since then HCP has established collaborative partnerships with ophthalmic clinical staff from several hospitals throughout the country. HCP has provided support by training doctors and nurses at its flagship training facility in Kathmandu, Nepal and on site through several high-volume cataract workshops. Read about the latest two in our May Newsletter where over 1400 surgeries were provided. Also in May and with HCP support, Quiha Zonal Hospital received 8 pallets of Ophthalmic Equipment and a 13-seat Landcruiser for transporting patients. All pictures to the left are of Quiha Zonal Hospital clinical staff, HCP volunteer ophthalmologists and cataract patients before or after a high-volume cataract workshop. The video was taken in May and shows exuberant patients when the eye patches are removed. HCP is making progress in Ethiopia and appreciates your support in our continued efforts to rid the backlog of 40,000 people blind due to cataracts.

If you are in the San Fransicso area, please come and meet HCP co-founders, Doctors Ruit and Tabin, as well as board members and Staff. Well be at the HCP tent from 11:00 to 1:00 after the marathon on Sunday, July 31st on Embarcadero, just south of Howard Street.

For more information visit http://www.cureblindness.org

Sunrise by Benaro Otieno- 6 year old from Kenya- Starting Bid $20.00

Kenya Art Copy- Bid Starts at $20.00

Original Artwork from Kim Sponaugle starts the bid at $80.00 Contact info@whimpublishing and give your bid

Team Randy Has Silent Auction