The Association appeals to the public and corporate sector to support the annual event by purchasing a seat or hosting a table of 10 for an evening of fun and insightful entertainment.
Lions International was eager to partner as the headline sponsor for the event as they are the founders for International World Sight Day, which is held on the second Thursday of October, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment. Lions and GDA share a mission which is to improve the lives of people who are visually impaired. Lions have generously contributed to the full cost of training a Guide Dog in support of this event.
The master of ceremonies for the evening is social entrepreneur and celebrity, Danilo Acquisto. Acquisto recently had the opportunity to walk with a Guide Dog while wearing a blindfold. This experience has converted him into a loyal supporter of the cause.
The guest speaker, Hendri Herbst, is guide dog owner to a Golden Retriever named Stan. Herbst was born with vitreous hyperplasia with secondary glaucoma, which had caused severe degeneration of his eyesight. Many will recognise him from the Paralympics S11 Men’s 100m freestyle medal ceremony where he won a bronze medal. He trains regularly and attends gym training sessions with the help of Stan (who is also an accomplished swimmer) and who Herbst met several months before travelling to the London Paralympics.
Môreson Wine Farm in Franschhoek will act as the wine sponsor for the event. The Friedman family have been generous in their support to the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind for many years.
The World Sight gala dinner takes place on Saturday, 15 October at Kelvin Grove Ballroom. Tickets are R700 per person and all the proceeds go to SA Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind. If you would like to become a sponsor for the event, phone Teagan Schwerin on 021 674 7395 or email
[email protected].
For more information, visit
www.guidedog.org.za. Alternatively, connect with them on
Facebook or on
Twitter.