Coast community gets behind Fred Hollows Foundation

The Fred Hollows Foundation has thanked the Central Coast community for its continued generosity and support this year.  

In 2024, the Foundation saw 91 new donors from the Central Coast support its work, with 1191 locals donating more than $300,000 – helping the charity restore sight to people living with avoidable blindness around the world.  

Demonstrating their community spirit, NSW residents have donated an incredible $9.423M so far this year.  

Founding Director Gabi Hollows expressed her gratitude to the Central Coast community for supporting the Foundation’s important work.  

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

 “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.

“We wouldn’t be able to restore sight to as many people here in Australia and around the world without the generosity of our community.  

“Thank you to the people of NSW for allowing us to carry on Fred’s vision of ending avoidable blindness.” 

Chansouk, an imaginative girl from Laos (officially officially the Lao People’s Democratic Republic LPDR), regained her sight thanks to life changing surgery.

When she was just two years old, she was on the verge of blindness after suffering 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 a cataract in her right eye.

With only four eye doctors for every million people in Laos, 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, bringing joy to her mother Nam.

“I would like to thank all the nurses and doctors, and The Fred Hollows Foundation,” she said. 

Now aged nine, Chansouk loves maths and dreams of becoming a doctor, just like Dr Senglar.

Her sight restoration journey highlights the critical need for eye care in Laos and the life-changing impact it can have on young lives. 

In NSW, the Foundation partners with several organisations to improve access to eye care in regional areas such as Lightning Ridge and Bourke.    

Last year, the Foundation performed more than 4.3 million eye screenings, distributed more than 6.8 million doses of antibiotics for trachoma and ran education sessions for more than 5.6 million adults and children globally.    

For more information about The Fred Hollows Foundation or to help restore sight, visit www.hollows.org or call 1800 352 352.