The Vale Housing Association will be playing it cool when staff don sunglasses on Tuesday 16th July to raise money for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
The Association is supporting the charity's second national Shades for a Day campaign. Last year over a quarter of a million people took part in the event, raising nearly £150,000, and this year the charity is hoping to attract half a million participants.
Maggi Wells, Personnel Manager at the Vale Housing Association, said: We are delighted to be able to support Shades for a Day. As well as raising money for Guide Dogs we are also able to highlight a vital eye care message for our employees - the importance of buying and wearing sunglasses that protect the eye from Ultra Violet light
. Geraldine Peacock, Chief Executive of Guide Dogs, explains: Too often we ignore our most precious sense - that of sight. Shades for a Day is a fun way of reminding everyone to look after their eyes and be "cool" at the same time. Guide Dogs is committed to both funding vital ophthalmic research and promoting eye care awareness and we're really grateful to the Vale Housing Association for supporting our campaign
.
Shades for a Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of eye care in the sun. Guide Dogs is advising everyone to look out for the CE mark when buying sunglasses - the best indicator of protection from harmful ultra violet light. Since 1990 the charity's Ophthalmic Research Grants Programme has funded 99 research projects totalling about £8 million. It is anticipated that a further £3.5 million will have been contributed by 2006.
Businesses wanting to register for Shades for a Day should visit The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association's web site at www.guidedogs.org.uk or phone 0118 983 8228.
Communications and Research Manager
Tel: 01235 536001
Guide Dog's Communications Department
Tel: 0118 983 8281