About Coastrek

Where Does My Money Go?

The Fred Hollows Foundation is the exclusive beneficiary of Coastrek. The Foundation works in over 18 countries to eliminate avoidable blindness, and also here in Australia to help improve Indigenous health. Your donation will have a lasting impact in places

VIETNAM

In Ho Chi Minh City, 881 orphans were tested recently for refractive error (the need for glasses). Blindness can have a huge impact on the educational and life outcomes of poor children.

A team of 20 eye health workers conducted the screenings by travelling from orphanage to orphanage and as a result, 40 children with poor vision received free spectacles to assist with schoolwork and everyday activities.

 "Tragically, if not treated, some of these children will eventually go blind," said CEO Brian Doolan. "Instead, because of The Fred Hollows Foundation, they will now have greater opportunities to learn at school, enjoy their childhood - and ultimately achieve independence as adults."

CENTRAL AUSTRALIA

Reggie Uluru after sight restoring surgery

As an Aboriginal elder, Reggie's sight saving operation allows him to continue his work as a community leader

More than 500 sight-saving operations have now been performed through a program in Central Australia coordinated by The Fred Hollows Foundation.

The Foundation's Angus Thornton says the program has been a great success. "The aim of the program was to clear a backlog of 300 patients who desperately needed eye surgery from these remote communities," Thornton says. "We couldn't be happier that 500 people out there have been given a better chance at life."

Aboriginal people are six times more likely than non-Aboriginal Australians to become blinded by eye disease.

Program partners include The Fred Hollows Foundation, the Federal Government, the Northern Territory Government, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation and The Eye Foundation.

"Fred travelled all around Australia to give people in remote communities the eye services they needed, so I think he'd be very proud of this achievement," Thornton says.

This is the difference you can make by fundraising for Coastrek.