Avoidable Blindness Project

Dr. Bradley Habermehl of the Burton Rotary Club shared a presentation at the July 1^st meeting about this year's trip to Mexico for the Avoidable Blindness Project. Several area Rotarians, including our very own John Sundwick, teamed up with nearly 30 volunteers including several 3^rd year optometry students representing Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. The group traveled to Guaymas, Mexico with 12,000 pairs of donated glasses. Along with the assistance of the Empalme Rotary Club, which consists of 11 members, and the outstanding support of the Mayor, they tackled the huge task of fitting hundreds of people with glasses.

Dr. Habermehl, who has been participating in this project for 11 years, shared the experience he had with a 72 year old woman who had been fitted with glasses. She later returned to see him and with the help of a translator, expressed her deep gratitude through her tears "God bless you, this is the 1^st day I have been able to see my granddaughter!"