The future looks bright for the kids of Temple Street Children’s Hospital thanks to a unique new charity partnership with Vision Express.

15 February 2013

Five-year-old Anthony Iannucci helped launch the fundraising initiative today between the country’s leading children’s hospital and opticians Vision Express.

 

Anthony, from Sallynoggin, Co Dublin, a patient of Temple Street’s Opthamology Department took time out with his mum Janet to drop in to Vision Express’s newly revamped store in Blanchardstown. 

 

Vision Express’ eight Irish stores have committed to raising €20,000 this year for the Opthamology Department at Temple Street to ensure children can continue to access the best possible care.

 

 

To mark this unique partnership, Vision Express has launched the first of a year-long campaign of fundraising by offering people a free “NCT” for their glasses.

 

From today, any customer who wishes to have a pair of damaged frames fixed during 2013 can do so for free at any Vision Express store in the country.

 

Customers are just asked to make a small donation to Temple Street Hospital through one of several charity boxes provided in-store. 

 

Anthony Iannucci mum’s Janet said: “It’s great to see Vision Express getting behind Temple Street and commiting to raise funds for the Opthamology Department.  Their support will make a real and lasting difference to Anthony and many other Temple Street kids”    

 

Expressing confidence in the Irish market Vision Express, who is celebrating 22 years in Ireland this year has invested one quarter of a million euro in a major revamp of its store in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, which will offer customers a significantly enhanced optical service in addition to greater choice of prescription frames and sunglasses.

 

The store has been completely re-modelled in line with Vision Express’ newly opened flagship store on Oxford Street in London, making it one of the most modern of its eight Irish retail outlets.

 

The revamp included moving the eye examination laboratory upstairs offering more space and new, state of the art technology for the optimum eye examination experience.

 

The ground level has been expanded all the way to the rear of the store, fitting out 3,326 square feet of shop floor space for new display stands including a dedicated sunglasses ‘shop in shop’ area. 

 

The Blanchardstown re-fit is part of the brand’s commitment to enhancing its service to customers throughout the country.  

 

Commenting on the newly revamped store for Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, store manager Philip Beasley said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this exciting new optical experience to our customers. We are now one of the best eye health laboratories in the country, in addition to being able to offer customers the biggest range of top designer frames. We are absolutely delighted to be able to fundraise for Temple Street and encourage our customers to support this worthy cause.”