City Workers Run to Help Save Sight of 6,500 Children

CITY WORKERS RUN TO HELP SAVE SIGHT OF 6, anabolics 500 CHILDREN

This year’s Standard Chartered Great City Race, generic which takes place on Thursday 14 July, will see workers from the City of London take to the streets of the square mile to make a difference to the lives of 6,500 children in developing markets. The official beneficiary of this year’s race is Seeing is Believing, a global initiative to help tackle avoidable blindness. Standard Chartered’s Group Finance Director Richard Meddings recently travelled to Tanzania where he witnessed first hand how the funds raised from last year’s race have made a real difference to the local community in Dar es Salaam.

During his visit, Richard handed over a cheque for USD $800,000 to the Minister of Health for Tanzania, Blandina Nyoni, PS. This sum was raised through a partnership of Standard Chartered employees in both the UK and Tanzania. Funds raised via last year’s Standard Chartered Great City Race also contributed to this fund raising goal, which has improved or protected the eyesight of over 90,000 Tanzanians.

An important part of Richard’s trip was spending time at one of the beneficiaries of the $800,000, CCBRT, a specialist disability hospital in Dar es Salaam. Richard visited the eye ward and operating theatre before meeting hospital staff and patients.

Richard Meddings, who is also Chairman of Seeing is Believing commented, “The Bank is exceptionally proud of its commitment to Seeing is Believing. Since we launched the initiative in 2003 Seeing is Believing has raised over US $32 million, and over 2.78 million people have benefited from sight restorations. Our long term aim is to increase public awareness of avoidable blindness, and the importance of early intervention, provide medical services to avoid blindness and raise funds to improve or restore sight. The funds raised will help to buy vital equipment in the field of eye medical work”.

This year Standard Chartered aims to raise the bar of its fundraising efforts. £5 from every race entry into the Standard Chartered Great City Race will go directly to Seeing is Believing, which the Bank will match. All additional funds raised by race participants for Seeing is Believing will also be matched by Standard Chartered pound for pound.

To make donations to Seeing Is Believing, receive training tips for The Standard Chartered Great City Race on 14th July, view pictures and video content from Richard Meddings’ Tanzania trip please visit the race’s Facebook page at:  www.facebook.com/standardcharteredgreatcityrace