The celebration took place on Sunday at Heathlands House Care Home in Cambridge, part of Care UK, where residents, families and local supporters gathered to enjoy live piano music, tea and cake, and a charity raffle. The event raised over £500 to support CBM UK’s sight-saving work in the world’s poorest places.
Lifestyle coaches Fiona Shepherd and Amanda Cooper at Heathlands House, (Care UK) helped Peter and Gill to put on the inclusive Dementia-friendly event. Entertainment was provided by award-winning local pianist James Williams, whose performance featured works by the blind French composer Louis Vierne. Over 20 local businesses generously donated prizes for the raffle, helping to make the afternoon a huge success.
“Being a volunteer with CBM UK gives me the chance to learn new skills and re-kindle some old ones. I also enjoy the opportunities to connect with like-minded people that volunteering with CBM provides,” said Gill Godber.
“The ‘Love Your Eyes’ Musical Tea Party enabled staff, residents, relatives and the community to come together at Heathlands House and enjoy beautiful piano music, a raffle, tea and cake. It was a great success.”
Pianist James Williams added:
“I am delighted to be part of the celebration of World Sight Day again this year, and to showcase the music of a great blind composer, Louis Vierne. From experience within my own family and work, I know just how important it is for visually impaired people to get appropriate support and medical care - hard enough to access in countries like the UK, but even harder in some of the world’s poorest countries. Many incidences of sight loss are avoidable with the right interventions, so I hope more people will give generously to charities like CBM UK, which enable thousands of people to keep their eyes healthy and enjoy a safer life.”
For Peter Godber, the event had personal meaning. Diagnosed with dementia in 2017, Peter has been playing piano since the age of four and served for many years as Church Organist at All Saints, Newmarket - a Dementia-friendly church. He and Gill have been volunteering and advocating for CBM UK for nearly two decades, having witnessed the transformational impact of CBM’s work firsthand during visits to Tanzania and Vietnam.
CBM UK’s Head of Fundraising, Mark Housden said:
“We are so grateful to Peter and Gill for their extraordinary 20 years of service. Their compassion and dedication truly reflect CBM’s values. The Love Your Eyes event was a wonderful celebration of hope, music and community spirit.”
Thanks to the generous local businesses that donated raffle prizes:
Everyman cinema
Arthur Rank Hospice Café
The George Public House, Babraham
The GOG- Shop Butchery & Deli
David Lloyd Health Club
Philip Hellier Precision Cutting
Gluttons Café Saffron Walden
S&B Herba Foods
Fulbourn Tesco
You can still donate towards this event at: http://www.justgiving.com/page/cbmloveyoureyes
