Gap Adventures raises almost £90k to build eye centre in Cambodia

via CAAI

Theodore Koumelis

Monday, November 15, 2010

The Great Adventure People announce they will also build mobile eye camps in Tasmania due to successful 20th anniversary fundraiser event. Adventure tour operator, Gap Adventures, has raised almost £90,000 in a bid to develop a new critical eye care facility in Cambodia. This fantastic cash amount has also enabled the company to build additional mobile eye camps in Tanzania.

The large sum of money was raised at ‘Ignite the Nite’, Gap Adventures’ 20th anniversary fundraiser event that was developed in partnership with the company’s non-profit organisation, Planeterra.

The evening was attended by more than 400 guests, staff and sponsors and included spectacular circus performances, a silent auction and an after dark dance party.

“The new vision centre will bring hope to the people of Cambodia and change people’s lives,” says Bruce Poon Tip, founder of Gap Adventures.

“We’re thrilled we surpassed our fundraising goal and that we are now able to help more people in the world by building mobile eye camps in Tanzania as well. Gap Adventures and Planeterra are extremely grateful for the amazing support and commitment from our partners, sponsors and the adventure travel community”.

The Gap Adventures 20/20 Vision Centre will be located in Northern Cambodia’s impoverished rural Battamban province.

By conducting simple cataract procedures, the centre will help restore sight to some of the area’s 12,000 blind residents, 90% of whom have lost their vision to preventable or curable conditions.