Logan's gift of sight

The City of Logan community has embraced the spirit of giving this year, having donated a whopping $233,836 in support of sight-restoring work by The Fred Hollows Foundation.

The charity’s 2024 Christmas Appeal features Chansouk, a 9-year-old girl from Laos who can now see clearly and is enjoying school, thanks to the generosity of the Australian public.

In total, Queenslanders have donated $5,797,204 this year to restore sight in people living with avoidable blindness around the world.

‘Thank you to the people of Logan for allowing us to carry on Fred’s vision of ending avoidable blindness,’ Gabi Hollow says in her role as Founding Director.

‘Unfortunately, avoidable blindness is increasing globally, but we know that nine out of 10 cases of blindness and vision impairment are preventable or treatable.

‘We can do something about it. The Fred Hollows Foundation has restored sight to more than three million people and we won’t stop until we achieve our mission of ending avoidable blindness.’

Chansouk was on the verge of blindness at the age of 2, after receiving a traumatic eye injury from a nearby fire.

Chansouk’s family sought help at Oudomxay Eye Hospital, where Dr Senglar Laosern, who was trained by The Foundation, diagnosed her with cataract in her right eye.

With only 4 eye doctors for every million people in Lao PDR, many children like Chansouk remain untreated.

Dr Senglar and visiting physician Dr Phatoumphone, who was also trained by The Foundation, performed successful surgery on Chansouk.

Chansouk’s mum, Nam, was overjoyed.

‘I would like to thank all the nurses and doctors, and The Fred Hollows Foundation,’ she says.

Fast forward to today, Chansouk loves maths and dreams of becoming a doctor just like Dr Senglar.

To help end avoidable blindness, visit The Fred Hollows Foundation website for more information and ways to help.

Photo at top: (From left) Chansouk, a 9-year-old girl from Laos who can now see clearly thanks to The Fred Hollows Foundation.