Get your glasses serviced while supporting children with cancer

Spectacle MOTs are being offered in the Sudbury branch of Wardale Williams as part of an innovative way of raising money for children with cancer.

Wardale Williams is offering the MOTs at its practices in Sudbury and Haverhill in return for a donation to childhood cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

The MOTs include minor repairs, tightening of frames, replacement of nose pads, a general check and a good clean. The service is being offered throughout September which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The opticians are supporting CLIC Sargent as part of the Keira Campaign, which has already raised more than £3,300. The family of teenager Keira Dixon teamed up with the opticians last March to launch the campaign.

Keira, 17, of Sible Hedingham, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2014 after optometrist Greg Hybel spotted worrying signs when carrying out an eye examination at the Wardale Williams Halstead practice. Greg immediately referred Keira to hospital and the next day she was transferred to the intensive care ward at Great Ormond Street Hospital and within five days underwent life-saving surgery.

Since her lifesaving treatment Keira has undergone more than 30 sessions of radiotherapy, lengthy periods of steroid treatment and has MRI scans at Addenbrookes’ Hospital in Cambridge every three months.

The idea of the campaign is to raise awareness of the importance of having regular eye tests and to raise money for CLIC Sargent which has been supporting Keira’s family since her diagnoses.

Amanda Skinner, manager of the Wardale Williams Sudbury practice said: “As September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month we wanted to do something to raise more money as part of the Keira Campaign. We have thought of the idea of spectacle MOTs which we feel is unusual and will appeal to the local community. All people have to do is come in and make a donation of their choice and we will carry out the service. Also, we need to continue to remind people of the importance of having regular eye examinations. Eye health is extremely important and regular examinations can help us spot signs of ill health at an early stage, which in extreme cases save lives.”

The Keira campaign is being supported by Wardale Williams practices in Sudbury, Halstead and Haverhill.

Anyone wanting to support the campaign can make a donation at any Wardale Williams practice.