Feast in the Dark to Help Fund Vital Eye Research

Two Kenilworth fundraisers have teamed up to host a dinner in the dark to raise money towards vital eye research, as part of Fight for Sight’s Feast your Eyes initiative. 

Claire Henley and Elizabeth Keell, both supporters of Fight for Sight, the UK’s main eye research charity, are hosting their foodie fundraiser at Sunam Balti House, on Abbey End, on Wednesday 19 October at 7.30pm. The event is part of Feast your Eyes, which will see people from local communities and businesses across the UK come together throughout October to host a dinner party with a difference that will challenge their senses and help fund pioneering eye research.

Both Claire and Elizabeth were inspired to support Fight for Sight and host a Feast your Eyes event, as a result of their experiences with sight loss. Claire’s daughter, seven year-old Matilda Henley, has had sight problems since she was 18 months old and was eventually diagnosed with corneal dystrophy in 2011. Claire and husband Julian have been supporters of the charity ever since. Watch Matilda's fight for Sight story.

Meanwhile, 37 year-old Elizabeth Keell, was diagnosed with keratoconus in 1995. The condition makes the cornea thinner and more cone-shaped over time and causes blurred and distorted vision. Elizabeth has raised thousands to help support Fight for Sight and may one day need a corneal transplant. Watch Elizabeth's fight for sight story.   

Claire Henley said: “Fight for Sight funds vital research into a wide range of eye conditions including corneal dystrophy which has affected Matilda’s sight since she was very young. Feast your Eyes is as great opportunity for people to get together, have fun and support Fight for Sight.

“We’re really looking forward to hosting our feast and hope that the local community joins us to enjoy some fantastic food whilst taking part in some blindfolded taste testing.”

As part of Feast your Eyes groups of friends and colleagues alike are set to join in and host events such as; a blindfolded breakfast, lights-out lunch, pitch black picnic, challenging cheese and wine or dinner in the dark.

Sharon Petrie, Interim Director of Fundraising at Fight for Sight, said: “We’re delighted that much-valued Fight for Sight supporters such as the Henley family and Elizabeth Keell are getting behind Feast your Eyes by hosting a dinner in the dark.

 “People can still get involved and host their own Feast your Eyes events. It’s really easy to sign-up, just visit the Fight for Sight website to register and receive a fundraising pack including free blindfolds.   

“Feast your Eyes offers a chance to play a part in raising vital funds for pioneering eye research. Every day 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight and nearly two million people are living with sight loss. Fight for Sight funds pioneering research into a number of different eye conditions to help make sight loss a thing of the past.”

Tickets are available at £16 each and includes poppadoms, curries, rice, naan bread and a blindfold!  People can contact Claire Henley directly for tickets at clairehenley@outlook.com

Feast your Eyes fundraisers can get involved in just six easy steps:

• Sign up - visit Fightforsight.org.uk/feast to register and receive a free Feast your Eyes pack, complete with blindfolds
• Invite - decide on the venue, date during October and guest list
• Cook - serve your favourite dishes or try a tricky-to-eat treat to test your guests
• Blindfold - challenge the senses for a true dine in the dark experience
• Eat, drink and have fun
• Donate - support Fight for Sight and let your guests know how much you raised.