"We have had the pleasure of working with the National Eye Research Centre and learning about the wonderful work they do."
David Graves, of GWS Media
Several firms in the South West are sponsoring a charity golf tournament in aid of research into the causes of and treatments for eye disease, sight loss and blindness.
Online marketing firm GWS Media is among the businesses supporting National Eye Research Centre, which they also carry out website work for, at a golfing event.
GWS creative director David Graves, who also heads their subsidiary company GWS Robotics in Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, said: “We have had the pleasure of working with NERC and learning about the wonderful work they do.
“We are delighted to be involved in such a fun and worthwhile event. Sight loss affects many people and the work NERC does is vital.”
National Eye Research Centre funds eye research throughout the UK but is based in Bristol Eye Hospital.
Two million people in the UK are currently living with a significant degree of sight loss but only two per cent of all medical research funding is directed at eye disease and sight loss.
Sight is the sense that people fear losing the most but large research grants are often directed at other disease groups.
Ian Richmond, a former GWS Media employee, organised the event and got in touch with his old firm and other local businesses to help host the day.
Ian, who changed jobs after starting a family to be closer to home and is now on the visual merchandising team with Clarks, said: “I supported the charity while working at GWS, which including taking part in a 10k and half marathon run.
“I think it’s for a great cause as blindness, sight loss and eye diseases affects many more people than most of us realise.”
Smith & Williamson, Dial a Geek, Seeker Digital and Clarks, which is based in Street, have also sponsored the day.
The event will take place at Mendip Spring Golf Club in Honeyhall Lane, Congresbury.
It will include food and refreshments, will involve a stableford competition – so players could still get a good score despite a few bad holes.
The winning team will get to play at Celtic Manor golf course, where the Ryder Cup was held in 2010. Other prizes will be up for grabs.
• The event will be held on Friday (October 19). For more information or to join in, visit https://www.nerc-charity.org.uk/Event/golfday or call Ian on 07969 456307.
