£125,000 donation supports improvement of children’s eye care and diagnosis
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital Charity has received a £125,000
donation from the Freemasons. Made up of a major donation from East
Lancashire Freemasons and supplemented by a grant from The Freemasons' Grand
Charity, the funds will be going towards the Hospital's Eye
Bicentenary Charity Appeal to improve treatment, research and care
at the Children's Outpatient Clinic.
The substantial donation will contribute to the purchase of
state-of-the-art equipment called a DNA Sequencer. The DNA
Sequencer together with sequencing agents will not only be able to
improve diagnosis for inherited eye diseases, but will also provide
a vital tool to enable researchers to better understand the
genetic basis of eye disease.
Currently, a diagnosis for inherited eye diseases can involve
repeated and invasive testing. However, using the latest
sequencing technology, the cause of the disease in 75% of patients
will be detected with a single blood sample. This will mean that
the Hospital will be able to treat more eye-patients than ever
before while greatly reducing the trauma that they might
experience.
DNA sequencing helps to identify new gene variants that cause
disease in the eye. It will enable researchers at Manchester
Royal Eye Hospital to better understand how such eye problems
develop and open up enhanced treatment possibilities.
The donation will also enable the post of 'Children's Eye Clinic
Liaison Officer' to be created. The post will provide much needed
support to patients and their families at a critical time - when a
child is diagnosed with a serious eye condition. From
specific counselling, working with social services, schools and the
wider community, the Children's Eye Clinic Liaison Officer will
enhance patient care beyond diagnosis.
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital recently marked its bicentenary by
raising funds to improve treatment, research and care at the
Children's Outpatient Clinic. The success of the Appeal will enable
the Hospital to provide the best possible treatment using the best
possible equipment in the best possible environment for
children.
Tanya Hamid, Legacies and Trusts Fundraising Manager, said:
"We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of The East
Lancashire Freemasons and The Freemasons Grand Charity. The support
we have received really will make a significant difference to the
lives of children who suffer from a range of eye conditions.
"Being diagnosed with a serious eye condition can be a scary
time a child and their family. With the funds raised by the
Freemasons we are a step closer to being able to provide the most
specialist care and support for those who need it the most."
Sir David Trippier, Provincial Grand Master for East Lancashire,
said:
"Freemasons are delighted to have provided vital financial
support for the most worthy cause of the eyesight of young
children, a cause for which Manchester Royal Eye Hospital provides
such superb facilities and expertise. We are also delighted to have
been supported in this project by The Grand Charity."
ENDS
For more information please
contact Aimee Lawless, press officer, on aimee.lawless@cmft.nhs.uk
or 0161 701 5114
Notes to Editor:
- Manchester Royal Eye Hospital Charity is part of the Central
Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Charity.
Registered charity number 1049274.
- The other hospitals which make up Central Manchester University
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Charity are:
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
University Dental Hospital of Manchester
Manchester Royal Infirmary
Saint Mary's Hospital
Trafford Hospitals
The Freemasons' Grand Charity
- The Freemasons' Grand Charity is a grant-making charity
dedicated to supporting people in need, having donated more than
£120 million since 1981. The Charity provides grants totalling
millions of pounds each year in the areas of: medical research,
support for vulnerable people, youth opportunities, hospice
services, air ambulances, disaster relief, and assistance to
Freemasons and their dependants in financial need.
- The Charity is continuing a commitment to charitable support
that began nearly 300 years ago in the earliest days of organised
Freemasonry.
- The Major Grants programme is part of the overall £2-3 million
donated by The Freemasons' Grand Charity every year.
- For further information, please contact Alex Hutson, Marketing
& Communications Manager at The Freemasons' Grand Charity on
ahutson@the-grand-charity.org or 020 7395 9385.
- The Freemasons' Grand Charity is the working name of The Grand
Charity, Registered Charity No. 281942 - See more at www.grandcharity.org
