Glaucoma Laser for Rwanda

SHINDIG are hosting a fundraising night of music, food and craic on Saturday 27th July 2024 in Whitehead Golf Club for a very specific reason. Our very good friend, and amazing fiddle player, Pauline O’Kelly, has a condition called macular degeneration which causes a loss of central vision over time. She has been in the care of a wonderful ophthalmic consultant i Belfast called Olivia Earley. The treatment she has received has been world class, and when our flute and concertina player Gerry McKee began to have serious trouble with his left eye, Olivia was there for him with the same level of care and expertise.

Olivia Early, Consultant Opthalmologist and surgeon, has been visiting Rwanda to treat patients and, vitally, to train two local surgeons in cataract and glaucoma treatments.

She has written: “There is ongoing need in all areas. Apart from delivering care to the endless volumes of people, there is a need for training and equipment. A laser treatment machine to treat glaucoma costs about $48,000. Professor Augusta Blanco, a Glaucoma specialist, travelled to Rwanda to show the two young doctors how to do glaucoma surgery. He feels the country would benefit enormously from a laser machine.”

“Shindig and Friends” will be our major fund raising event. A night of music, food and craic in Whitehead Golf Club on Saturday 27th July. An auction of art/craft works of local interest will take place on the night.

Thanks to those who have already donated but we still have a long way to go to hit our target. Please share as widely as you can to family and friends.