Dubai - Dubai charity event to raise money towards finding a cure for hereditary diseases that lead to blindness

Citation

(2006), "Dubai - Dubai charity event to raise money towards finding a cure for hereditary diseases that lead to blindness", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 19 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2006.06219fab.006

Dubai - Dubai charity event to raise money towards finding a cure for hereditary diseases that lead to blindness

DubaiDubai charity event to raise money towards finding a cure for hereditary diseases that lead to blindness

Keywords: Equality, Health education

Dining out across Dubai will take on a whole new meaning with the “Candlelight foreSight” charity dinner event, to raise money towards finding a cure for hereditary diseases that lead to blindness, the UAE’s biggest cause of disability.

Now in its second year, Foresight’s founder Katy Newitt is already hopeful that the event will see people dining in droves to benefit a really good cause. She knows only too well the daily difficulties faced by blindness; she is severely visually impaired due to a disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa, which has caused her gradually lose her vision since the age of 18.

It was reported that top restaurants were coming on board all the time offering to donate the proceeds of diners’ meals on 5 June to help find a cure for blindness. Everyone who participated last year really enjoyed the event, and has been keen to offer their services again, with many new restaurants also joining the cause. Initial interest from diners has also been very good.

Participation to Candlelight foreSight is easy: diners can book a table at any participating restaurant in Dubai or pledge a home event by visiting the www.foresightrp.com website, with the booking service generously provided by the Time Out ticket line. They receive a voucher to present to their chosen restaurant in exchange for a three-course meal, and a host of participating restaurants will donate a table or more at their establishments.

Tables will be dressed in orange, which is Foresight’s symbol (as this is the last colour Katy can differentiate). Individuals can also host dinner parties in their homes by applying for a home dining pack online, and guests are invited to make contributions to Foresight. Home participants will receive an “orange kit” including gift and dining ideas.

All individuals have to do is enjoy an evening out or a dinner party with friends – the donation at home or the money that they would have spent on their meal out will directly benefit finding a cure for blindness. Candle foreSight will also provide a blindfold if diners would like to experience what it is like to eat without the use of their sight. It’s a bit of fun but gets people to think about the issues that blind people face in their everyday lives.

Foresight – which is now a branch of Tamkeen – was set up by Katy when she discovered that recent progress in research means there is real hope of finding a cure for hereditary eye diseases. Foresight funds research by holding events that people will enjoy while raising money and awareness, such as Candlelight foreSight. Foresight hopes to fund local research projects in conjunction with the international research effort.

The Candlelight foreSight tables are dotted across a wide price range of restaurants, with participants donating a minimum of Dhs 100 to Foresight. These include the Jebel Ali International Group, Grand Hyatt Dubai, Wafi Pyramids, Intercontinental, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi, Jumeirah Beach Club, Hilton Jumeirah and Dusit Dubai. The event is also open to anyone who wants to host a dinner party in their home.

Katy stated that she would like to invite as many people of all backgrounds and cultures around Dubai to dine to help put an end to hereditary blindness. Everyone who participates can enjoy a great night out and know that they are helping the organisation to reach a step closer to a cure – bringing light into the lives of millions around the world.

Foresight is a UAE-based non-profit making organisation and a branch of Tamkeen. The organisation is recognised and advised by Retina International (which coordinates major retinal research internationally), Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, the Emirates Medical Association and the Emirates Association for the Blind. Foresight also lobbies to improve the lives of people who are visually impaired and blind in the UAE.

Tamkeen (the Arabic word for enabling) is a non-profit organisation, initiated by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for the training of visually impaired citizens of working age. This unique training centre provides professional training courses that aren’t found anywhere else in the UAE. All courses including transport are free of charge.

Tamkeen’s objective is to empower vision impaired UAE nationals and residents with practical, vocational skills to enable them to enter the modern workplace to become economic and socially independent citizens.

For more information, see: www.arabmedicare.com