Apr 29th 2013

Fundraiser triples target

Emma McGuire, from Worcester, has set her sights high after more than tripling her fundraising target for the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre.

In August 2012, Emma suffered a severe retinal detachment which could have left her permanently blind in her right eye if doctors had not operated quickly.

Whilst getting ready for a party, Emma’s sight deteriorated so dramatically she could only see a few feet in front of her.

After attending the A&E department at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Emma was rushed into surgery where a team of specialists led by Dr A. Mitra repaired her retina and rescued her sight.

Following her recovery, Emma set out to raise £100 for the eye centre by doing a sponsored 31 mile bike ride between Worcester and Birmingham.

So far she has raised a grand total of £316 and is determined to keep on fundraising.

Emma has more than tripled her target by encouraging her friends and colleagues to dress up in their pyjamas and cut their calories.

Emma said: “I owe so much to the A&E staff, Mr Mitra and his team for all of their expertise and outstanding care.

“I’m determined to keep finding ways to raise money to help the eye centre treat people like me.”

On Wednesday 27 March, Emma and her colleagues at Medical Imagining UK Ltd, collected donations for the eye centre at a pyjama party held in their office.

The company’s director, Jonathan Hildred, donned a onsie and joined in the fun.

Jonathan said: “At Medical Imaging UK Ltd we provide diabetic retinal screening and other ophthalmic imaging services to the NHS and private healthcare sector.

“We know how important it is for people with eye problems to access treatment quickly to avoid losing their sight.

“It was great to dress up in our PJs for the day to help support all the great work staff at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre do.”

Despite a punctured tyre, Emma and her husband Adrian completed their sponsored thirty-one mile bike ride at the beginning of April.

Now, Emma’s friends at St Georges’ Slimming World Group in Worcester have nominated the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre as their Slim-a-thon charity and are ditching the calories to rake in the pounds.

Emma said: “Fundraising is my way of saying thank you to the staff at the eye centre for saving my sight.

“I’m pleased to say that the pyjama party, bike ride and slimming challenge are just the beginning.”