Planeterra & Gap Adventures Event Raises Over $140k to Build 20/20 Vision Centre in Cambodia

 via CAAI

November 9, 2010

Adventure travel leader Gap Adventures’ is proud to announce that its “Ignite The Nite” benefit smashed its $50,000 fundraising target – raising over $140,000 – to help build a new critical eye care facility in Cambodia.

The event was developed in partnership with the non-profit Planeterra Foundation, which supports and develops more than 40 community projects around the world.

“Gap Adventures and Planeterra are extremely grateful for the amazing support and commitment from our partners, sponsors, and the adventure travel community,” says Gap Adventures’ founder Bruce Poon Tip. “This new vision centre will bring hope to the people of Cambodia and change people’s lives,” he says.

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.

About 80% of blindness is preventable or treatable, often with a 15-minute cataract surgery costing $50 or less.

“We’re thrilled to announce that we surpassed our fundraising goal and are now able to also build mobile eye camps in Tanzania,” adds Poon Tip.

The “Ignite The Nite” fundraiser commemorated the company’s 20th anniversary celebration. Planeterra will continue to accept donations to support the vision centre on its website, www.Planeterra.org.

At the fundraiser, The Zero Gravity Circus troupe performed juggling, fire-spinning, and martial arts before more than 400 guests, staff, and representatives from sponsoring companies at the Berkeley Church in Toronto.

For more information or to contribute, visit http://www.ignitethenite.com/  or http://www.planeterra.org/.