Our fundraising team
Ailsa Walter (Community Fundraiser)
Following two retinal detachments in 2003 it came to my attention that my consultant Chris Canning and Andrew (Prof Lotery) were training to run the London Marathon in 2005 to raise funds for the Gift of Sight Appeal. Their commitment inspired me to raise some sponsorship and I have enjoyed my involvement with the Appeal since that time. I feel that we are exceptionally lucky to have such an excellent Eye Unit in Southampton, together with the facility for Professor Lotery and his team to undertake such vital research. Since being appointed Community Fundraiser for the Appeal in April 2008 I have been delighted to be working with so many kind people who are all helping to raise funds in our bid to beat blindness. Our Skydive in 2010 was an amazing experience and we have just completed the Rotary Test Way Walk.
I am indebted to the many people who help fundraise, many of whom have become personal friends. In order to be fair I have listed some of them below in alphabetical order.
John and Jaki Brown
John and Jaki were introduced to us by Esso/Exxon at Fawley and have been incredibly helpful with advising on and preparing artwork for advertising merchandise, giving advice on other media matters and being a huge support in my times of need! They also prepare our 'turning page' newsletter link on our website and I very much look forward to working more with them in the future.
Chris Browning
Chris has cone dystrophy and is a patient of Professor Lotery. Over the past few years Chris has raised funds by cycling with his Uncle from Taunton to Lands End and then with his friend, Nick Dawson, from Lands End to John O'Groats. His latest 'fundraiser' was as part of the Gift of Sight tandem skydive team in May 2010. Congratulations to Chris on being awarded a 2:1 and in finding gainful employment immediately after leaving University.
Brenda Cooper
Welcome to Brenda and 'team Cooper' who have been friends for many years and who have jumped on board to assist with all those 'little background jobs' that happen when preparing for events and mail outs. Huge thanks to you all for your help.
Ian and Bridget Corrie Hill
Ian and Bridget have raised funds for Gift of Sight for the last four years by holding a Cake and Plant sale in their beautiful garden. They are a joy to work with and they have a fantastic team of friends to assist at their events. Ian has written some poems about blindness and one of these will be included in the next Gift of Sight Newsletter.
Angela Cree
Angela manages the Vision Research laboratory and has been involved with Gift of Sight fundraising for many years. She was one of the 'A' team who took part in the Inca Trail and has, since then, taken part in Rotary walks and organises the cartridge recycling scheme on our behalf. Angela's support is always welcome and she can be relied upon to help at all large events.
May Martin
I have known May for many years and she has taught me more about sewing and needlework than comes naturally to me! She is a tremendous support at any events locally and turns her hand to making the most beautiful items to sell to raise funds for our appeal.
Greta Paxton
Greta hosts an annual coffee morning at her house to raise funds for Gift of Sight and is a wonderful advertisement for treatments now offered to patients at the Southampton Eye Unit. Greta suffers from dry age-related macular degeneration and has recently benefited from the insertion of new lenses to her eyes which has given her improved vision and means that she is legally able to drive after five years of not being able to do so.
Greta was President of Southampton Inner Wheel Club for the year 2010/2011 and, with tremendous assistance from her Southampton Inner Wheel friends, has raised an amazing £4,565 towards our research. We would like to thank everyone concerned for their help.
Philly Sargent
Philly was a Doctor in Southampton Eye Unit and understands the implications of visual impairment from first hand experience. She joined the Gift of Sight Board in 2009 and has been instrumental in organising the amazing Christmas Concert in Winchester College Chapel which took place on the 13th December 2010. Philly has been ably supported by the Event Committee.
Emma Scott-Copeland
Emma is a soprano soloist and sings with various choral societies and musical groups in the South of England. Together with her husband Richard, who is a professional organist and accompanist, she has very kindly organised support for our Appeal through their professional engagements. Emma, who suffers from eye disease, is a patient of Professor Lotery and is full of praise for the staff in Southampton Eye Unit who deal with her on a regular basis.
10.3.10
Susan Symes
Susan has supported Gift of Sight for many years by making and selling cards and organising exhibitions of her button collections. She has been in great demand recently to give talks about the buttons which she has collected and which are amazingly displayed on boards, some of which are taken with her when she gives talks to local groups. The buttons are varied and set out according to ‘groups’ including enamel buttons, boot buttons, pearly buttons, jet buttons and military buttons to name just a few. Susan also makes cards and sells them at fairs and fetes in order to make more money for us.
As a result of being invited to give many more talks Susan's donations now amount to almost £5000 and she is a fantastic ambassador for our Appeal.
We must mention Susan's husband John who is very supportive and who joins in and encourages her schemes with good grace and enthusiasm. 28.07.2011
Kate Walter
Kate has been instrumental in preparing many aspects of Gift of Sight events and her secretarial and organisational skills have been incredibly helpful. Her artistic ability has saved many a nervous breakdown when the pressure is on. It is wonderful having two totally supportive daughters who 'put me right' and help my fundraisisng in so many ways. Kate made me walk faster on the Test Way Walk which meant finishing in a record time!
Sarah Walter
Sarah (Squidge) has helped with many Gift of Sight events and has donated and arranged the flowers at the Gift of Sight Ball in 2008 and 2010. She also 'sold' herself for £500 at our last Ball and prepared a delicious five course meal for twelve people at the end of October 2010. Sarah has Type 1 diabetes which can, if not regulated, cause eye problems.
Caroline Augier (Secretary SEU) held a Cake Sale in the Eye Unit with a colleage which raised a fabulous £300 in two hours. Since then Caroline has continued her fantastic support by helping at the Lecture and other events during the year. It is so lovely having her on the team.
Vibhuti Gupta and Christina Lim
We are delighted to have two medical students involved in fundraising for our appeal, both of whom are showing an interest in a career in ophthalmics. Christina is organising the production of an AMD patient support DVD which will be added to this website when completed.